By Kevin Kelly
Enquirer staff writer

The shuttling back and forth from Triple-A to the major leagues has taught Felipe Lopez much about himself and his career goals.

"I don't want to be a guy that is up and down," Lopez said Saturday. "This is where everybody wants to be. This is definitely where I want to be."

PHOTO GALLERY

Photos of Saturday's game

Since being recalled from Triple-A Louisville on July 26, the Reds infielder has been an offensive asset.

Lopez was hitting .383 with four home runs and eight RBI in 15 games since the promotion - his second stint with the Reds this season - and started his 12th game at shortstop Saturday.

"I think I have more of an understanding now about my game," he said.

"I understand what I have to do to get ready for a game. I understand what I have to do to be successful. And I understand what not to do."

MINOR MATTERS: Triple-A Louisville pitcher Matt Belisle allowed two hits over eight scoreless innings in an 8-0 win against Indianapolis on Friday.

Belisle struck out six and walked two. He also went 1-for-2 with a solo home run.

The two pitchers acquired from the Phillies in the Cory Lidle trade were scheduled to make their Reds organizational debuts Saturday.

Elizardo Ramirez started for Double-A Chattanooga. The right-hander made seven relief appearances for the Phillies earlier this season.

Joe Wilson started for Single-A Dayton. The left-hander went 4-7 with a 3.64 ERA in 24 games at Single-A Lakewood in the Phillies farm system.

ODDS AND ENDS: Right fielder Austin Kearns, who developed a blood blister on his surgically repaired right thumb Tuesday, threw and took batting practice before Saturday's game. ... Former Reds and current Reds Sox relief pitcher Scott Williamson will have season-ending elbow surgery on Wednesday in Cincinnati. Reds medical director Dr. Timothy Kremchek will perform the procedure.

REDS FACT: They entered Saturday's game against the Padres having gone 8-19 since the All-Star break.

Reds statistics

(Through Saturday's game)

BATTERS	AVG	OBA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	E
Casey	.337	.391	401	76	135	37	2	17	71	33	24	1	0	6
Larkin	.308	.358	302	54	93	15	3	7	41	25	34	2	0	4
Dunn	.283	.410	403	80	114	22	0	36	75	82	135	4	1	4
Freel	.282	.384	365	47	103	13	5	1	21	51	63	22	8	12
Lopez	.268	.330	97	16	26	9	0	4	13	9	27	0	0	8
Bragg	.267	.389	15	4	4	1	0	1	1	3	3	0	0	0
Pena	.263	.317	266	35	70	8	1	21	56	17	84	3	1	6
Jimenez	.258	.355	407	51	105	18	2	7	44	61	70	9	6	6
Griffey	.253	.351	300	49	76	18	0	20	60	44	67	1	0	1
LaRue	.244	.326	291	37	71	15	1	13	41	21	78	0	2	8
Castro	.239	.270	222	25	53	17	1	2	16	10	37	0	0	6
Cruz	.235	.313	115	18	27	5	0	3	22	10	33	0	0	0
Valentin	.219	.268	151	15	33	7	1	5	16	10	26	0	0	4
Hummel	.218	.281	110	10	24	4	0	1	7	8	17	1	0	4
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
Vander Wal	.167	.189	36	2	6	2	0	2	4	1	13	0	0	0
Romano	.154	.214	26	3	4	0	0	1	3	2	10	0	0	0
Team Totals	.255	.336	3953	554	1008	205	17	147	527	433	910	46	19	79

PITCHERS	W	L	ERA	G	GS	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO
Graves	1	4	3.15	59	0	36	60.0	61	26	21	11	8	36
Riedling	4	3	4.27	52	0	0	59.0	61	36	28	5	30	32
Norton	1	3	4.35	52	0	0	51.2	52	29	25	4	25	35
Harang	7	4	4.49	19	19	0	108.1	120	55	54	11	39	87
Wilson	9	4	4.54	23	23	0	142.2	157	76	72	22	51	92
Wagner	2	1	5.67	33	0	0	33.1	44	25	21	4	20	21
Van Poppel	3	5	5.92	30	10	0	92.2	106	61	61	16	18	60
Acevedo	5	10	6.36	25	23	0	127.1	154	92	90	24	40	98
Claussen	1	3	6.93	5	5	0	24.2	26	22	19	5	15	13
White	1	1	7.27	24	0	0	26.0	28	21	21	11	4	20
Hancock	2	1	8.04	8	3	0	15.2	23	16	14	6	7	10
Matthews	2	1	8.84	22	0	0	18.1	23	19	18	6	10	8
Valentine	0	1	14.54	2	1	0	4.1	7	7	7	2	7	3
Team Totals	56	60	5.32	116	116	37	1031.2	1159	659	610	167	385	691