By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer

PHOTO GALLERY

Photos of Tuesday's game

The theory about Wily Mo Pena since the Reds got him was that he was so talented, one day the light would come on and he'd be able to play at the big-league level.

That may have happened.

Pena is hitting .387 (12-for-41), with three home runs and five RBI over his last nine games.

He went 2-for-4 with a double and a two-run homer Tuesday and also made a run-saving catch.

"They gave me a chance," Pena said. "I showed I can play. I'm comfortable at the plate and in the outfield."

Pena's chance didn't come until four other center fielders - Ken Griffey Jr., Austin Kearns, Reggie Taylor and Ryan Freel - were hurt.

"Right now, he's our hottest hitter," Reds manager Dave Miley said. "What have we got - 18 games left? He's going to get 18 more starts."

Pena, 21, has been with the Reds most of the year simply because he was out of options. But he barely played, because he wasn't ready. Pena hit .255 with 126 strikeouts in 388 at-bats at Double-A last year.

But he showed signs that it wasn't wasted, when he hit .370 with four homers and 14 RBI in 14 games at Triple-A Louisville on a rehab assignment.

"I've learned even when I don't play," he said. "I talk to (Barry) Larkin and (Ken) Griffey all the time. I watch the other team's best hitter."

Larkin and Ray Knight, since he has taken over as hitting coach, have worked on making Pena more selective at the plate.

"See the ball, hit the ball," Pena said. "I look for a pitch up. They throw me a lot of (bad pitches) I can't hit. I don't swing at them."

VAN POPPEL TODAY: Right-hander Todd Van Poppel will start today (7:10 p.m.) in place of Aaron Harang, who was scratched because of his sore back.

Van Poppel threw six innings of two-hit, shutout ball in relief of Harang on Friday.

"(Van Poppel) has thrown well," Miley said, "and he's the guy we haven't used (in relief)."

Van Poppel made one start this year in the majors.

He started May 3 for Texas against Cleveland. He went four innings, allowed only two earned runs and did not get a decision in a 6-5 Rangers win.

MATEO AVAILABLE: Ruben Mateo, out since Aug. 29 with a strained hamstring, was available to pinch-hit or to be used in a double switch Tuesday night.