Saturday, March 20, 2004

Inside Reds camp



valentin MEET THE REDS: Javier Valentin

Position: Catcher

Age: 28

Height/Weight: 5-feet)10/192 pounds

Bats/Throws: Switch/Right

Born/Resides: Manati, Puerto Rico.

How Acquired: Signed a minor-league contract Dec. 26, 2003.

Favorite movie: Austin Powers.

Off the field: "I don't like to do a lot of stuff other than be with my family and watch TV."

Famous relative: Javier's brother Jose is an infielder with the White Sox.

What you might not know about Javier: He and his brother operate a baseball academy in Puerto Rico. "I like to teach kids," Valentin said.

Injury report

Utility player Ryan Freel, who sprained his right ankle Thursday, will play against the Devil Rays today in St. Petersburg. ... Third baseman Brandon Larson (turf toe) is expected to be ready to play by Monday.

GAME REPORT: Rays 7, Reds 5 (10 innings)

The bats: Reds catcher Jason LaRue and left fielder Adam Dunn had two hits each. Dunn drove in two runs with a single in the fourth inning. He has hit safely in five of the past six games (7-for-13). Catcher Javier Valentin tied the game at 4 with a solo home run off Jorge Sosa in the ninth.

The arms: Cory Lidle made his fourth spring start and allowed three earned runs on seven hits over seven innings. ... Relievers Chris Reitsma and Danny Graves each pitched one scoreless inning. ... Reliever John Riedling pitched the 10th inning and allowed three earned runs on four hits for the loss.

The rest: The Reds are 2-1 against the Devil Rays this season. ... Attendance was 4,425.... Temperature at game time was 78 degrees.

Up next: The Reds will play their final split squad today - against the Devil Rays in St. Petersburg and against the Braves in Kissimmee. Jose Acevedo (1-0, 2.45) is scheduled to start against Tampa Bay. Jesus Sanchez (1-0, 0.00) will start against the Atlanta.

Radio: Reds vs. Devil Rays, WLW-AM (700)

TAMPA BAYCINCINNATI
abrhbiabrhbi
Crawford lf5011Jimenez 2b2000
Lugo ss5130Lopez 2b2000
DCruz ss0000Castro 3b5110
Baldelli cf5330Griffey cf2000
McGriff 1b4000Clark cf-lf2000
Gipson pr-rf0000Kearns rf3000
Laforest ph0001Pena rf2011
Seay p0000Casey 1b2100
JCruz rf3112JaCruz 1b2000
Colome p0000LaRue c3120
Sosa p0000Miller c2010
Perez ph-rf1111Dunn lf3122
Blum 3b3001Christnsn cf1000
Rolls 3b2011Hummel ph1000
Hall c2000Olmedo ss3011
Moss p1000Lidle p3000
Guzman 1b2000Reitsma p0000
Sanchez 2b3120Graves p0000
Tatis 2b1000Valentin ph1111
Abbott p1000Riedling p0000
Fick ph-c3000
Totals417127Totals39595
Tampa Bay0011020003-7
Cincinnati0003000011-5

E-Lugo, Castro, Casey. DP-Cincinnati 2. LOB-Tampa Bay 6, Cincinnati 8. 2B-Sanchez 2, Baldelli, Rolls, LaRue, Pena. 3B-Olmedo. HRs-JCruz (3). SB-Baldelli, Clark. CS-Jimenez. SF-Laforest.

IPHRERBBSO
Tampa Bay
Abbott443323
Moss310023
Colome100002
Sosa W, 2-0111101
Seay S, 1131102
CincinnatiIPHRERBBSO
Lidle774311
Reitsma110001
Graves100000
Riedling L, 0-1143300

WP-Riedling. T-2:44. A-4,425.



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