By John Fay
Enquirer staff writer

PITTSBURGH - Jose Acevedo will get at least one more start for the Reds.

Acevedo went 3 1/3 innings Friday night, allowing six runs, to fall to 4-9 and have his ERA rise to 6.09.

PHOTO GALLERY

Photos of Saturday's game

"We've talked about it since spring training," Reds manager Dave Miley said. "It's important that we develop these guys. Guys are going to have their ups and downs."

Acevedo, a 26-year-old right-hander, is 0-2 with a 14.80 ERA over his last three starts. He is 1-6 with a 7.77 ERA with one quality start in his last 11 outings.

Miley thinks Acevedo can turn things around by eliminating the big inning. He gave up four runs in the third inning Friday night. It marked the eighth time in nine starts that he has allowed three or more runs in one inning.

"We've talked to him about that," Miley said.

The Reds also believe Acevedo has the stuff to turn it around.

"He pitched well in April and into May," Miley said. "We've seen him be as good as anyone we've got."

The Reds aren't concerned with Acevedo losing confidence as he struggles.

"I don't think he has," Miley said. "He's frustrated. He feels like he's let the team down. But as far as losing confidence, I've never seen that from Acie."

Said Acevedo: "I've never given up on myself. I never will give up on myself."

LOCKED-IN LUKE: Whether the Reds considered right-hander Luke Hudson as a possible replacement for Acevedo in the rotation isn't clear.

What is clear is that Hudson is pitching extremely well. Hudson pitched eight innings of two-hit ball Friday night.

Since June 19, Hudson is 6-1 with a 1.47 ERA. Hudson has allowed only 23 hits and seven walks while striking out 41 in 43 innings.

Hudson missed all of last season after shoulder surgery.

INJURY UPDATE: Ken Griffey Jr. ran the bases Saturday for the first time since injuring his right hamstring July 11.

"He went at about 70 percent," Reds trainer Mark Mann said. "He did some moderate agility drills. He felt good. We'll increase what he does each day as he can tolerate it."

Griffey is eligible to come off the disabled list Monday. He'll be re-examined that day by Dr. Tim Kremchek and then work out for the coaching staff.

It's possible Griffey could be activated for Monday's game with the Cardinals. But it's unlikely given the Reds' caution in dealing with injuries.

Austin Kearns, on the DL after thumb surgery, began hitting off the batting tee. He'll begin hitting in soft-toss drills today.

Kearns is eligible to come off the DL Aug. 1, when he probably will begin a rehab assignment.

Brandon Larson, on the DL with a left hamstring injury, is doing light running on the treadmill and hitting in the cage. He's eligible to come off the DL Aug. 2.

NORTON! Left-hander Phil Norton is on nice run. Norton has not allowed a run in five appearances since the All-Star break.

He has allowed only two hits in the five innings in those outings.

"If he keeps the ball down, with that curveball, he's tough," Miley said. "It's a matter of consistency."

UP NEXT: The Reds wrap up the three-game series with the Pirates today. Left-hander Brandon Claussen (1-0, 2.57 ERA) makes his second start for the Reds. He faces Pirates left-hander Sean Burnett (4-2, 2.18) in a 1:35 p.m. game.

REDS FACT: The team enters today's game at Pittsburgh 6-18 in its last 24 road games.

Reds statistics

(Through Friday's game)

BATTERS	AVG	OBA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	E
Casey	.343	.392	324	61	111	30	1	15	57	24	22	1	0	4
Larkin	.294	.345	286	49	84	12	3	5	34	24	34	2	0	3
Pena	.289	.338	190	22	55	5	1	14	38	11	58	3	1	3
Freel	.271	.367	303	36	82	11	5	1	16	37	51	18	6	8
Jimenez	.267	.369	333	47	89	16	2	6	34	54	55	9	6	4
Castro	.264	.297	163	20	43	15	1	1	11	8	28	0	0	5
Dunn	.263	.402	327	60	86	18	0	26	57	72	116	4	0	3
Griffey	.251	.350	295	48	74	17	0	20	60	44	65	1	0	1
LaRue	.246	.330	240	32	59	13	1	12	35	17	62	0	2	7
Cruz	.240	.309	100	15	24	5	0	2	19	8	29	0	0	0
Hummel	.232	.275	95	9	22	4	0	1	7	5	16	1	0	3
Larson	.212	.304	118	13	25	6	0	3	14	14	35	1	0	5
Vander Wal	.200	.273	10	1	2	1	0	1	2	1	4	0	0	0
Kearns	.195	.327	87	10	17	2	1	3	13	16	30	1	1	1
Valentin	.194	.250	124	13	24	5	0	5	13	9	18	0	0	4
Romano	.160	.222	25	3	4	0	0	1	3	2	10	0	0	0
Team Totals	.253	.335	3279	452	828	167	15	116	427	364	760	42	16	57

PITCHERS	W	L	ERA	G	GS	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO
Claussen	1	0	2.57	1	1	0	7.0	5	2	2	1	2	4
Graves	1	4	3.12	51	0	34	52.0	53	23	18	10	5	30
Wilson	9	2	3.71	19	19	0	121.1	125	53	50	15	40	81
Jones	8	2	3.81	48	0	1	54.1	43	24	23	4	23	37
Riedling	4	2	3.96	46	0	0	52.1	49	27	23	4	23	30
Harang	6	2	4.15	15	15	0	84.2	100	40	39	8	31	70
White	0	1	4.80	15	0	0	15.0	14	8	8	5	1	12
Norton	1	2	5.08	41	0	0	39.0	39	25	22	3	20	26
Lidle	6	8	5.18	21	21	0	132.0	142	78	76	17	36	84
Van Poppel	3	4	5.45	22	10	0	77.2	88	47	47	12	14	50
Acevedo	4	9	6.09	20	20	0	109.1	128	75	74	21	31	85
Wagner	2	1	7.48	23	0	0	21.2	34	20	18	4	14	13
Matthews	2	1	8.84	22	0	0	18.1	23	19	18	6	10	8
Team Totals	50	47	5.05	97	97	35	859.2	941	511	482	127	302	584