By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer

PITTSBURGH - Jason Romano is a Red because Tampa Bay thought it was getting an infielder when it traded Antonio Perez to get him from the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 3.

PHOTO GALLERY

Photos of Friday's game

"One of their people thought he saw me playing shortstop," Romano said. "They were looking for more of a middle infielder. They've got a pretty good young outfield down there, so it didn't work out."

The Devil Rays designated Romano, 24, for assignment Tuesday. The Reds claimed him off waivers two days later.

Romano, who is out of options, has played shortstop, second base and third base, but his primary position is outfield. The Reds will use him mostly there, but he'll work with infield coach Randy Whisler, so he can be used as an infielder, too.

"I do have infield in my blood," he said. "I can be used there in an emergency. I'll take groundballs every day."

You probably won't see Romano at shortstop. He's made five errors in 14 chances at short in his brief big league career.

Romano, who joined the team Friday, popped out as a pinch-hitter in his first appearance as a Red.

Romano was happy with the transaction on two counts.

"I'm happy to be back in the National League," he said. "It suits my style better."

Romano also grew up a Reds fan. He's from Tampa, where the Reds trained from 1946-87.

"I was pretty young then," he said. "But my family always talks about the Reds and watching Pete Rose play."

Romano has played in the big leagues in part of 2002 and '03. He combined to hit .205 in 127 at-bats for Texas, Colorado and the Dodgers. In the minors, he was a consistent .300 hitter. He also can run. He stole 32 bases in 42 attempts for Triple-A Las Vegas last year.

With the Reds, he'll occupy the Ryan Freel role, while Freel's in the starting lineup.

"He's a guy who can come off the bench and play all three outfield positions," Reds manager Dave Miley said. "We'll use him to pinch hit, pinch run. He gives us more flexibility."

TRIVIALLY SPEAKING: Romano has twice been in trades that former Reds were part of.

Perez, the player Tampa Bay gave up for him, is a former Reds farmhand. Perez, in fact, was the player Seattle got in the Ken Griffey Jr. trade when the Reds wouldn't give up Pokey Reese.

Texas traded Romano and Gabe Kapler to Colorado for Todd Hollandsworth and former Red Dennys Reyes.

NO GRIFFEY: As expected, Ken Griffey Jr. was not with the club Friday. He was attending funeral services for his maternal grandfather, Curtis Littleton, in nearby Donora, Pa.

SIT OR NOT TO SIT: With D'Angelo Jimenez in the throes of an 0-for-23 skid (entering Friday), some managers would have given him a day off.

"I believe you get them out of it by sending them out there on a daily basis," Miley said.

You've also got to look beyond just batting average. Jimenez's on-base percentage was .348 going into Friday's game. Freel, the other choice for leadoff, was out-hitting Jimenez .268 to .214, but Freel's on-base percentage was only .281.

Jimenez snapped his hitless streak at 24 when he singled in the third inning.

UP NEXT: Right-hander Jimmy Haynes (0-2, 6.75 ERA) faces Pirates right-hander Kris Benson (2-0, 2.00) today.

The Pirates shuffled their rotation following Thursday's rainout. Kip Wells started Friday, instead of Oliver Perez.

Perez was moved to Sunday, and the Reds won't face Josh Fogg, who had been scheduled start Sunday, in the series.

REDS FACT: The Reds stole eight bases in their first 15 games while opponents swiped six. The Reds and their opponents were each thrown out twice.