By Kevin Kelly
Enquirer staff writer

The locker was not bare for long.

Moments after pitcher Jesus Sanchez's nameplate was removed, Jason Romano walked into the Reds clubhouse Sunday and dropped his bags beside the vacated locker.

The Reds recalled the outfielder from Triple-A Louisville before Sunday's game against the Cardinals and designated Sanchez for assignment.

PHOTO GALLERY

Photos of Sunday's game

"I'm just excited to come up here again and get the chance to help the team out any way I can," Romano said, "whether it's playing or off the bench."

With outfielders Ken Griffey Jr. and Austin Kearns on the disabled list, and third baseman Brandon Larson nursing a strained hamstring, the Reds needed the additional depth that Romano provides.

"He gives us, if need be, a defensive replacement late in the game," Reds manager Dave Miley said.

This is Romano's second stint with the Reds this season.

He played in 15 games and batted .063 with seven strikeouts before being outrighted to Louisville on May 19. Romano responded well to the move, hitting .315 with two homers, eight RBI and 12 runs in June, and .337 in 40 games overall this season.

"I went down, had a plan and stuck to it," he said. "I was just trying to do the things that I worked on when I was up here - hitting line drives - and it worked out."

Romano entered Sunday's game as a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning and struck out with two on against Cardinals reliever Steve Kline. He flew out to right in the ninth inning.

SANCHEZ'S SITUATION: Sanchez, the veteran left-hander, was 0-2 with a 7.53 ERA in three starts since being called up July 2.

"I know I can do better," he said. "I believe it."

The Reds now have 10 days to trade Sanchez, release him or outright him to the minor leagues. Sanchez may refuse a minor-league assignment and become a free agent.

"I have to talk to my agent and see what decision we have to make," he said. "I don't have a decision right now."

Left-hander Brandon Claussen will be recalled from Louisville before Tuesday's game against the Brewers and take Sanchez's spot in the rotation.

DAY-TO-DAY: Larson's strained left hamstring was examined by Reds medical director Dr. Timothy Kremcheck on Sunday.

He is listed as day-to-day.

"It's just really sore," Larson said. "It feels like a charley horse stuck in my leg. I guess they're going to treat it for a couple more days, see how it goes and make a decision after that."

If the injury requires additional time to heal, it is possible Larson will be placed on the 15-day disabled list. The Reds will need to make a move so Claussen can be added to the 25-man roster in time for Tuesday's game.

LET'S GET PHYSICAL: First-round draft pick Homer Bailey is scheduled to undergo a physical today in Cincinnati, and if everything checks out, sign a contract both sides have agreed upon in principal.

"I'm going to reserve, at the moment, judgment on it because you never assume until everything is signed, sealed and delivered," Reds general manager Dan O'Brien said.

"But I think, hopefully, things will work out (today)."

O'Brien did say the Reds plan on sending Bailey, a right-handed pitcher from LaGrange, Texas and USA Today's High School Player of the Year, to the Gulf Coast League once he has signed.

ODDS AND ENDS: Cardinals pitcher Jeff Suppan improved to 6-0 with a 2.39 ERA on the road this season. . . . With two hits Sunday, Reds second baseman D'Angelo Jimenez extended his hitting streak to eight games. . . . Louisville pitcher Matt Belisle extended his team's streak of quality starts to five games Saturday. The right-hander allowed two runs on five hits over seven innings.

REDS FACT: Adam Dunn needs two home runs to become the 23rd player to hit 100 homers as a Red. Ken Griffey Jr. and Sean Casey each reached 100 this season.

Reds statistics

(Through Sunday's game)

BATTERS	AVG	OBA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	E
Vander Wal	.500	.600	4	1	2	1	0	1	2	1	0	0	0	0
Casey	.341	.389	305	57	104	27	1	15	55	23	22	1	0	4
Larkin	.296	.344	274	47	81	12	2	5	34	22	31	2	0	2
Pena	.289	.335	173	19	50	4	1	12	34	10	53	3	0	2
Freel	.279	.376	283	35	79	10	5	1	16	35	45	17	5	7
Castro	.277	.314	148	18	41	14	1	1	10	8	26	0	0	5
Jimenez	.269	.377	312	45	84	16	2	6	29	54	48	9	6	4
Dunn	.264	.407	311	59	82	17	0	26	56	72	112	4	0	3
Griffey	.251	.350	295	48	74	17	0	20	60	44	65	1	0	1
Cruz	.247	.318	97	15	24	5	0	2	19	8	28	0	0	0
Hummel	.239	.283	92	9	22	4	0	1	7	5	15	1	0	3
LaRue	.229	.316	227	28	52	12	0	9	30	16	59	0	2	7
Larson	.212	.304	118	13	25	6	0	3	14	14	35	1	0	5
Kearns	.195	.327	87	10	17	2	1	3	13	16	30	1	1	1
Valentin	.182	.236	121	11	22	5	0	3	11	9	18	0	0	4
Romano	.056	.156	18	1	1	0	0	0	0	2	8	0	0	0
Team Totals	.253	.336	3115	429	787	159	13	109	404	357	717	40	14	53

PITCHERS	W	L	ERA	G	GS	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO
Graves	1	4	3.12	51	0	34	52.0	53	23	18	10	5	30
Wilson	9	2	3.59	18	18	0	115.1	121	49	46	13	35	75
White	0	1	3.75	13	0	0	12.0	9	5	5	4	1	9
Jones	8	2	3.88	47	0	1	53.1	42	24	23	4	23	36
Riedling	4	2	4.20	44	0	0	49.1	49	27	23	4	23	30
Harang	5	2	4.25	14	14	0	78.1	93	38	37	8	27	65
Lidle	6	7	4.79	20	20	0	127.2	132	70	68	14	34	81
Norton	1	2	5.35	38	0	0	37.0	38	25	22	3	20	23
Van Poppel	3	3	5.62	20	10	0	73.2	85	46	46	11	14	48
Acevedo	4	8	5.77	19	19	0	106	119	69	68	21	29	84
Wagner	2	1	6.41	21	0	0	19.2	31	16	14	3	13	11
Sanchez	0	2	7.53	3	3	0	14.1	18	12	12	4	9	8
Matthews	2	1	8.84	22	0	0	18.1	23	19	18	6	10	8
Team Totals	48	44	4.98	92	92	35	817	893	481	45	119	286	554