The Associated Press

Reds outfielder Adam Dunn went on the 15-day disabled list today with a sprained left thumb.

Adam Dunn wears a cast today on his sprained left thumb. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

Dunn was injured while trying to make a diving catch on a sinking line drive in the sixth inning of Friday's victory over Houston. He stayed in the game and hit a two-run, game-winning homer in the 10th inning for a 9-7 victory.

"I saw what you guys saw," Reds manager Dave Miley said. "I didn't know until late last night. He hit that ball 400 feet. That shows you the kind of pain tolerance he has."

Dunn's hand was placed in a hard cast after an MRI exam today. He will be re-evaluated in two weeks.

"I had a feeling it wasn't right," Dunn said today. "I was just hoping it would go away. Sometimes you dive and you feel something, but it goes away. It was pretty sore this morning. "It won't need surgery.

"There were two things that I thought I'd never have to worry about - hitting .210 and being on the DL. I'm not even on the DL a day, and I already hate it."

Dunn is batting .215 with a team-best 27 homers in 116 games this season.

The move opened a roster spot for right-handed pitcher Seth Etherton, who made his Reds debut against the Astros today.

Etherton was acquired from Anaheim in December 2000. A series of arm problems kept him from pitching for the Reds until Saturday.