The Ohio Cup, part deux
Friday lineup vs. CLE
Phillips 4
Cabrera 6
Votto 3
Rolen 5
Gomes 7
Bruce 9
Stubbs 8
Hernandez 2
Aaron Harang 1
*Orlando Cabrera is 8-for-60 in his last 15 games, including a current 0-for-18 slide. He is out of the leadoff spot for now.
“At-bats are piling up for Cabrera,” Dusty Baker said. “Maybe getting some non at-bats, some sac bunts, some hit-and-runs and different things will take some pressure off him.”
Cabrera has a better chance to break out tonight since he is 7-for-18 (.389) in his career vs. Cleveland starter Aaron Laffey.
“I know but when you’re not going good, track record don’t mean nothing,” Baker said. “He had a good track record against some of the guys on the road too.”
Baker was asked if the just-signed Gary Matthews Jr. could eventually fill the leadoff role.
“Matthews has got to get his act together first,” Baker said. “How do you do that without your act being together? Matthews is going to Triple-A to get his act together. If his act was together, he’d be playing somewhere and probably leading off.”
*Ryan Hanigan was 0-for-2 Thursday as the DH in his first rehab assignment game for Triple-A Louisville.
*Homer Bailey (right shoulder inflammation) said he is going to resume a throwing program on Monday — nothing too intensive at first however.
“I feel like I can probably start throwing now,” Bailey said. “I feel pretty good. But we have this plan working. It seems to be going pretty well. We’ll take our time and stick with it.”
*Reliever Mike Lincoln (strained right side muscle) hoped to begin throwing by next week.
*Tonight is Irish Heritage Night, so the Reds are donning green caps for the game vs. the Indians.
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Mark Sheldon
