By Kevin Kelly
Enquirer staff writer

Reds notebook John Riedling is as baffled as anybody by his recent performances.

"It's weird," the Reds relief pitcher said. "I don't know how to explain it. I can't get back to where I was."

Riedling cruised through the season's first half, going 4-2 with a 3.80 ERA in 42 appearances, but has labored since.

"I think I'm just pressing more than anything," said Riedling, who allowed a game-tying, two-run homer in the eighth inning Wednesday.

In 14 second-half appearances entering Thursday, including eight against the Cardinals, Riedling was 0-1 with a 6.89 ERA. Opponents were batting .313 against him, and he had allowed 21 hits and walked nine in 15 2/3 innings.

"I'm trying to remember, look over some tape of what I was doing earlier in the year when I was so focused and throwing the ball where I wanted to," said Riedling, who said he also has been dealing with elbow tendinitis. "I just want to get pitching better. ... When you're struggling, confidence is a factor - so you try to get your confidence back."

D'BAT AND D'GLOVE: Projected as a bench player when the Reds acquired him last season, D'Angelo Jimenez has become one of the team's most consistent performers this season.

The second baseman entered Thursday batting .429 with three homers, six RBI and one stolen base in his past three games.

But Jimenez also has done well defensively. His .989 fielding percentage ranked second among qualifying National League second baseman and fourth in the major leagues.

"I've learned how to separate the defense and offense," Jimenez said. "I was struggling (offensively) for a little while, hitting the ball right at people. But I told myself to forget about it and go play defense.

"Because if you don't help the team offensively, you can help by making a great play or double play. ... That's a chance to win the game, too."

MINOR MATTERS: In his first rehabilitation appearance for Triple-A Louisville, Reds pitcher Mike Matthews threw one scoreless inning of relief against Columbus on Wednesday. The left-hander struck out one and allowed one hit.

Matt Belisle (9-10) started for the Bats and allowed seven runs on six hits in two innings in the 8-5 loss.

Reds third baseman Brandon Larson was batting .167 with a double, home run and three RBI through the first five games of his rehabilitation assignment with Louisville.

SICK SCOREBOARDS: The scoreboards at Great American Ball Park were inoperable at the start of Thursday's game because of a computer virus.

ODDS AND ENDS: Outfielder Wily Mo Pena (sprained left wrist) took batting practice and was available to pinch hit Thursday.

E-mail kkelly@enquirer.com