By John Fay and Kevin Kelly
The Cincinnati Enquirer

PHOTO GALLERIES

Photos of Tuesday's game

Dave Miley's first day

Scott Williamson is going to a contender, a team with a bona fide shot at the playoffs.

"That's what I've always wanted," Williamson said.

But in the wake of the trade that sent Williamson to Boston Reds Sox for minor-league pitcher Phillip Dumatrait, a player to be announced and cash, Williamson wasn't feeling very good.

"It's heart-breaking," he said. "(Bullpen coach) Tom Hume was a like a father to me. I've got a lot of good friends on this team."

There also was this: Williamson's wife, Lisa, had the couple's first child, Scott Reece, four days ago. She has had complications and went to emergency room Tuesday.

"It's very stressful on her," Williamson said. "I'm going to be away for two months. She's got family, so they'll help her. But it's hard."

Williamson, the 1999 National League Rookie of the Year, had been with the Reds organization since he was picked in the ninth round of the 1997 draft.

He was 25-22 with 54 saves and a 2.93 ERA in five years with the Reds. His career ERA is best on the Reds staff. He talked to Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein after the trade was worked out.

"He didn't tell me how I was going to used," Williamson said. "He told me I was the guy they wanted to help them get to the playoffs. They made me feel good."

ALLEN DENIES RUMORS: Reds chief operating officer John Allen denied a national report that said former general manager Jim Bowden was ordered to trade Scott Williamson, Danny Graves, Gabe White and Scott Sullivan before the Thursday trading deadline.

"I'm not saying we didn't have trade discussions," Allen said. "But there wasn't a mandate to trade anyone."

INJURY UPDATE: White called off his rehabilitation assignment at Triple-A Louisville for the second time.

"I'm not going to throw off the mound until I don't feel (any pain)."

White has been on the DL since June 25 with a strained right groin.

Sullivan, who is on the DL with a sore right shoulder, was eligible to come off Tuesday.

"I won't be," he said.

Trainer Mark Mann said Austin Kearns, on the DL with an inflamed rotator cuff, continues to make progress. He threw from 140 feet Tuesday without problems.

"If Austin doesn't have any setbacks, we're looking at him going on a rehab assignment in about 10 days," Mann said.

FARM REPORT: Wily Mo Pena went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a walk in Louisville's 9-8 win over Charlotte in Rick Burleson's debut as manager. Burleson, formerly the Billings manager, replaced Dave Miley. Jay Sorg, the hitting coach at Billings, replaced Burleson.

Pena is hitting .455 with two home runs and nine RBI in his last nine games.

THE CAPTAIN'S VIEW: In his more than 16 seasons with the Reds, shortstop Barry Larkin has played under nine managers and four general managers.

That didn't lessen the shock of Monday's news that Bowden and manager Bob Boone were fired along with hitting coach Tom Robson and third base coach Tim Foli.

"I think Jim did a tremendous job with the handcuffs, the limited budget that was allowed," Larkin said. "Being in the situation that we're in, (Ken Griffey) Jr. and myself making so much of the money, he really had to budget and try to go get this and that within the parameters."

Larkin, 39, is in the final year of a deal that pays him $9 million this season. He had spoken to Bowden before Monday about his future with the organization.

"Now we'll just have to see what happens," he said.

JOINING THE CLUB: The hiring of Dave Miley brings the number of current major league managers born and raised in Tampa, Fla., to four.

Tony La Russa of the Cardinals, Carlos Tosca of the Blue Jays and Lou Piniella of the Devil Rays are the others.

"That's pretty neat, all these guys from Tampa," Piniella said Tuesday.