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Hairston gets start while Keppinger sits
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
CINCINNATI — The short trip Jerry Hairston took to the disabled list last month had a minimal effect on his production. Since he's been back, the Reds shortstop continues to be the team's best leadoff hitter.
Jeff Keppinger hasn't performed quite as well since being reinstated from the DL – .297 since he returned June 22 – but he's probably the team's most consistent hitter.
Both are extraordinary against left-handed pitching (Keppinger is batting .431 this year with a .517 on-base percentage, while Hairston is .404 and .458, respectively), but unfortunately for Reds manager Dusty Baker, both are primarily shortstops.
"I went from not enough shortstops to a lot of shortstops," Baker said before his team faced Pirates lefty Zach Duke on Tuesday, July 2. "I had a meeting with (Keppinger) and Jerry today and said, 'Hey look, I'm going to play everybody but not have anybody out more than a couple days.' You'd like to have both in there."
That was not the case Tuesday. Hairston led off and played shortstop. Keppinger sat on the bench.
"I've been in there every day since I came off the DL, so I kind of figured ..." said Keppinger, who expected to play Tuesday. "I guess I'm the odd-man out."
Hairston, who was hitting .344 in his last 22 games entering Tuesday and .369 while leading off, benefited.
"One thing is I wanted to come out and pick up where I left off," Hairston said. "Obviously you never want to be injured, but fortunately for me, I was only out 15 days. I wasn't out like two or three months. I just wanted to get back and have good at-bats and see what I could do."
JVB to take mound
John Van Benschoten, a graduate of Milford High School, grew up attending Reds games at Riverfront Stadium and listening to Marty and Joe on the radio. Today, he'll get his first chance to start in his hometown.
"It's still a big thing," said Van Benschoten, who's 1-2 with an 8.31 ERA and has just one start at the big-league level this season. "It's still the same city but a new ballpark. It means a lot. You see the emblems in the stadium with Nuxy and with Marty and everything. I basically grew up listening to them."
Selected by the Pirates in the first round (No. 8 overall) of the 2001 draft, Van Benschoten has struggled with injuries throughout his career, and this season he's spent most of his time at Class AAA Indianapolis.
Ross still catching
Paul Bako usually catches the Dominican duo of Edinson Volquez and Johnny Cueto, but David Ross was Volquez's battery mate Tuesday.
Although Ross hits 12 points lower against lefties, Baker said he kept Ross in the lineup because of the recent struggles that have dropped Bako's average to .224.
"Usually Bako catches Volquez and Cueto," Baker said, "but there are times when you can't and shouldn't do that."
Baker's not trendy
For the second straight game, Pittsburgh manager John Russell batted his pitcher in the eighth spot. On Tuesday, Russell had Duke No. 8 and shortstop Jack Wilson ninth.
Baker didn't seem impressed with the idea. "Some guys must think there is (merit) to it," he said. "If they want to do it, it's on them. I haven't thought about it too much."
