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REDS NOTES
With Harang ailing, rotation unclear
Friday, August 03, 2007
WASHINGTON, D.C. — It turns out Aaron Harang probably won't be ready to pitch Saturday in Pittsburgh, so Victor Santos was set to take his place in the Cincinnati Reds rotation.
At least that's what the plan was before the Reds played the Nationals on Thursday night.
Extras
That plan evaporated in the fifth inning, when Santos was called upon to pitch after rookie starter Phil Dumatrait couldn't last through the fourth. Santos pitched three innings, allowing one run.
Harang had to leave his last start Saturday with lower back problems. Wednesday, Bronson Arroyo left the game in the second inning with pitching effectiveness problems.
It has left the Reds with some patchwork starters.
Dumatrait's start was his first appearance in the majors, and it was thought Santos, who has had experience with the Tigers, Rockies, Rangers, Brewers and Pirates prior to joining the Reds, would get Saturday's start in Pittsburgh, following tonight's starter, Matt Belisle.
"I've been a starter all my life," said Santos. "Right now, all I want is to be able to help the team."
He was asked to help just a little sooner than expected.
Nice plays
One of the Nationals and one of the Reds provided plays in the first two games of the series not often seen in the majors.
In Tuesday's game, Washington second baseman Ronnie Belliard made a play near the second-base bag to nail a runner at second. After having to pivot away from the base, he was facing right field, and seemingly had no play at first or second. But Belliard flipped the ball backward about 10 feet to shortstop Felipe Lopez for the out at second. Belliard didn't even have time to take the ball out of his glove.
It was, to say the least, spectacular.
Wednesday, Cincinnati's Brandon Phillips pulled a move of his own, stealing two bases in one attempt. With the infield shifted around to right in deference to Adam Dunn, Phillips stole second and kept on going into third.
"I've seen guys steal second with the pitcher holding the ball," Reds interim manager Pete Mackanin said, "but not this, and there were two outs at the time. If it works, OK. If it doesn't, I'm not happy with it."
Phillips joins Morgan
With the two stolen bases, Phillips became the first Reds second baseman with 20 homers and 20 stolen bases in the same season since Joe Morgan in 1977. Morgan hit 22 homers that season, and stole 49 bases.
Phillips was moved to second in the order Thursday after spending the first two days of the trip batting fourth.
"I would like to give everybody a spot in the lineup to get used to," Mackanin said, "but I can't always do that."
Alex Gonzalez, who hasn't played since July 13, was back at shortstop, meaning Jeff Keppinger was on the bench. Keppinger has hit .323 in 19 games, including 14 starts for Gonzalez, who was mostly on the bereavement list.
Upon further review
For those keeping score, Ken Griffey Jr.'s single in the eighth inning Wednesday was rescored as a fielder's choice instead of a hit.
