http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2511238
CINCINNATI -- Trying to bolster their struggling bullpen, the Cincinnati Reds acquired Eddie Guardado and cash from the Seattle Mariners on Thursday for minor league pitcher Travis Chick.
<!--------------------------START PLAYER CARD------------------><TABLE class=tableheadFixWidth cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 width=200 align=right><TBODY><TR class=stathead><TD class=whitelink colSpan=2>Eddie Guardado</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow align=right><TD align=left>Relief Pitcher
Seattle Mariners
Profile
</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow><TD align=middle><TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=1 width=190 bgColor=#ffffff border=0><TBODY><TR class=stathead align=middle><TD align=middle colSpan=6>2006 SEASON STATISTICS</TD></TR><TR align=right><TD style="BACKGROUND: #bcbcb4" width="17%">GM</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND: #bcbcb4" width="17%">W</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND: #bcbcb4" width="17%">L</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND: #bcbcb4" width="17%">BB</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND: #bcbcb4" width="17%">K</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND: #bcbcb4" width="17%">ERA</TD></TR><TR align=right bgColor=#ffffff><TD style="BACKGROUND: #999999">28</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND: #999999">1</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND: #999999">3</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND: #999999">11</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND: #999999">22</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND: #999999">5.48</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!---------------------INLINE MINI-PLAYER CARD ENDS HERE--------------------->
The Reds made the trade a day after blowing two leads in extra innings before losing 6-5 in the 13th at Milwaukee. After the game, Cincinnati reliever Brian Shackelford was arrested on suspicion of third-degree sexual assault.
Guardado is expected to join the Reds in Atlanta on Friday. Cincinnati began the day two games behind St. Louis in the NL Central.
The 35-year-old Guardado had 36 saves with a 2.72 ERA in 58 games for the Mariners last season.
But this year, the normally reliable reliever known as "Everyday Eddie" struggled and was demoted from the closer's role in May after blowing three save chances. Guardado was 1-3 with five saves and a 5.48 ERA, and was serving as a setup man for J.J. Putz.
"Eddie had some struggles early on this season that allowed some of our young guys to run the back of the game and they got that job and haven't let go," general manager Bill Bavasi said in a release.
The 21-year-old Chick was 4-5 with a 4.61 ERA for Double-A Chattanooga. The Reds acquired the righty from the San Diego organization last July in a deal for third baseman Joe Randa.
<!--end leftcol -->
Rally in ninth wasted
Reds lose after coming back from 7-2 deficit
Friday, July 07, 2006
Charles Odum
ASSOCIATED PRESS
<!--PHOTOS--><TABLE class=phototableright align=right border=0><!-- begin large ad code --><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE align=center><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle></IMG> </TD></TR><TR><TD class=credit width=200>JOHN BAZEMORE ASSOCIATED PRESS </TD></TR><TR><TD class=cutline width=200>Reds starter Joe Mays gave up six runs and nine hits in 5 1 /3 innings against the Braves. </TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle>
</IMG> </TD></TR><TR><TD class=cutline width=200>The Braves’ Adam LaRoche is tagged out by Reds catcher David Ross as he tries to score from third on a squeeze bunt in the fourth inning </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
ATLANTA — Atlanta’s relievers had their biggest blowup of the season last night, but Cincinnati’s displaced closer wound up taking the loss in a matchup of struggling bullpens.
Jeff Francoeur’s two-out single in the 10 th inning drove in Chipper Jones with the winning run as the Braves recovered from a ninth-inning collapse to beat the Reds 8-7.
Francoeur’s hit came off Todd Coffey (3-4), whose stint as Reds closer apparently ended with the Reds’ trade with Seattle for veteran closer Eddie Guardado yesterday. Guardado is expected to join the team today.
Coffey followed David Weathers in the closer’s role. Reds relievers have a 5.28 ERA, 10 losses and 13 blown saves.
"Any time you struggle, it’s frustrating," Coffey said. "It’s even more so when our hitters got us back in the game and I go out and give it right back to them."
Despite rallying with five runs in the ninth, the Reds lost their sixth straight.
Jones hit a one-out double in the 10 th. Coffey struck out Andruw Jones before intentionally walking Brian McCann to face Francoeur, who laced a single to left. Jones just beat Adam Dunn’s throw to the plate.
"I remember from last year, he has a great sinker," Francoeur said of Coffey. "I was able to hang in there and get it on the upswing. ... I figured it was just a matter of time before he came in there with that."
Ken Ray (1-0) gained the win, pitching around two walks in the 10 th.
Jorge Sosa suffered the staff’s 17 th blown save in 35 chances as the Braves couldn’t hold a 7-2 lead in the ninth.
Tim Hudson gave up singles to Dunn and Austin Kearns before reliever Macay McBride gave up a single to Scott Hatteberg to load the bases.
Sosa struck out Edwin Encarnacion before giving up a two-run double to David Ross and a three-run homer to pinch-hitter Javier Valentin.
"I was just trying to be aggressive," Valentin said. "It was a fastball, low. I got good wood on it."
Hudson gave up eight hits and four runs in eight innings.
"We won the game, man, that’s all I wanted," Hudson said. "The way I’ve been throwing the ball the last few weeks, I was just happy with going out there, giving us a chance to win, not putting us in a hole early."
Andruw Jones drove in four runs, including three with his 19 th homer that capped a four-run first.
Hudson stranded runners on second and third in the sixth thanks to third baseman Chipper Jones, who dived to his left to snag a sharp grounder by Kearns and threw him out at first.
Joe Mays, making his sixth appearance and third start with Cincinnati, gave up hits to the Braves’ first four batters. Marcus Giles, Edgar Renteria and Chipper Jones opened with singles, with Giles scoring the first run on Jones’ hit to left before Andruw Jones’ homer to left.
Hatteberg’s eighth homer in the second cut the lead to 4-1. The Braves got the run back in the fourth when Francoeur led off with a single and scored on a double by Adam LaRoche.
Hatteberg led off the sixth with a double to right and, after moving to third on Encarnacion’s single, scored on a double-play grounder by Ross. The Braves pushed the lead to 6-2 and knocked Mays out of the game in the sixth.
Reds demote reliever Shackelford after arrest
Friday, July 07, 2006
Jim Massie
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
<!--PHOTOS--><TABLE class=phototableright align=right border=0><!-- begin large ad code --><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE align=center><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle></IMG> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
The Cincinnati Reds didn’t wait to see how Brian Shackelford’s day in court went before optioning the left-handed relief pitcher to the minor leagues.
Shackelford, 29, was arrested just after midnight yesterday outside Miller Park in Milwaukee on suspicion of third-degree sexual assault. He pitched to one batter, Prince Fielder, in a 13-inning, 6-5 loss and struck him out.
The Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office has yet to issue charges but is continuing its investigation of the incident, which the Milwaukee Police Department arrest-detention report says occurred Monday. Shackelford spent the night in jail. He was released in the afternoon and is scheduled to return to Milwaukee on Aug. 21.
Cincinnati optioned Shackelford to triple-A Louisville and recalled left-handed pitcher Michael Gosling from the Bats to take his roster spot before its game last night against the Atlanta Braves. Gosling probably will return to Louisville after pitcher Eddie Guardado, who was acquired in a trade with Seattle, joins the Reds today.
The Reds issued the following statement: "We are not able to address this matter publicly because of the pending legal proceedings. We recognize the seriousness of the matter and do not condone behavior of the type alleged."
General manager Wayne Krivsky declined to comment on Shackelford’s future with the team.
Equipment manager Rick Stowe informed manager Jerry Narron about Shackelford’s situation during the 13 th inning. Narron went over to Shackelford, put a hand on the pitcher’s shoulder and told him to wait on the bench after the game.
"I didn’t tell him what was going on," Narron said yesterday. "I honestly do not know what’s happened since he left the ballpark."
In Wisconsin, a third-degree sexual assault carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine.
The Associated Press contrib uted to this report
.
[email protected]
Reds get Guardado to help in bullpen
Veteran reliever will be closer after trade with Mariners
Friday, July 07, 2006
Jim Massie
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
<!--PHOTOS--><TABLE class=phototableright align=right border=0><!-- begin large ad code --><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE align=center><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle></IMG> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Cincinnati Reds general manager Wayne Krivsky acquired veteran reliever Eddie Guardado from the Seattle Mariners yesterday to take over as closer for the struggling bullpen.
"I know Eddie real well from Minnesota," said Krivsky, who was an assistant GM with the Twins when Guardado emerged as that team’s closer in 2002. "He had a real good year last year with Seattle. He’s going to get a chance to close games for us."
The Reds bullpen entered the game last night against the Atlanta Braves with a National League-worst 5.28 ERA. Closer Todd Coffey suffered blown saves in two of the three losses this week to the Milwaukee Brewers.
The trade, which included cash considerations from the Mariners, cost the Reds double-A pitcher Travis Chick. Guardado was 1-3 with a 5.48 ERA for the Mariners. Krivsky is hoping he can regain his ’05 form when he saved 36 games for Seattle. He is expected to arrive in time for the game tonight in Atlanta.
"For the time being, I think he makes us stronger," Krivsky said. "He doesn’t have classic closer stuff. He makes up for it with his makeup and his command. He goes after hitters. He’s not afraid."
[email protected]
Priceless!!!
Sounds like they got the wrong guy, the other one would have fit in well.
The Reds can make the playoffs, the problem will be that they won't advance. It's not like they need to find just one starter, or one middle reliever, or one bat ... they need two starters and five middle relievers.
BRAVES 8 REDS 3
Atlanta roughs up Reds, Arroyo
Braves send All-Star to early shower in shortest start of year
Monday, July 10, 2006
George Henry
ASSOCIATED PRESS
<!--PHOTOS--><TABLE class=phototableright align=right border=0><!-- begin large ad code --><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE align=center><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle></IMG> </TD></TR><TR><TD class=cutline width=200>Atlanta’s Andruw Jones hits in the sixth inning against Cincinnati. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
ATLANTA — Chipper Jones knew the Atlanta Braves couldn’t afford to break even in their series with Cincinnati.
"This was a big series for us," Jones said. "We couldn’t really afford to go 2-2. The bottom line is we’re a little bit closer."
Andruw Jones hit a two-run homer and the Braves roughed up All-Star Bronson Arroyo in an 8-3 win yesterday.
Jeff Francoeur and Scott Thorman also hit homers for the Braves, who have won three straight series. Atlanta has won seven of 10 games overall but is just 13-26 since May 28.
Arroyo (9-6) lasted just 4 1 /3 innings, allowing 10 hits, six runs and three walks in his shortest start of the season. The first-time All-Star struck out three.
"For the first four innings, I was getting deep in the count," Arroyo said. "Nobody was an easy out. Nothing was clicking."
Cincinnati, which has lost seven of eight, plays Colorado to begin a 10-game homestand Thursday. The Reds are just 20-22 in Great American Ball Park.
"We have to go home and get regrouped," Reds manager Jerry Narron said. "We should be able to play better at home than we have."
Adam Dunn’s 28 th homer, a three-run shot that went 450 feet to deep center, chased Braves reliever Oscar Villarreal with no outs in the sixth inning.
Tyler Yates allowed Austin Kearns’ broken-bat single and walked Brandon Phillips before Braves manager Bobby Cox brought in left-hander Macay McBride to face pinch-hitter Ken Griffey Jr.
McBride struck out Griffey on a pitch that bounced into the glove of catcher Brian McCann to end the threat.
"I thought they would pitch to him," Narron said. "I was trying to find a spot where we could have Junior come up with the tying run on base. Their left-handers wore us out."
Villarreal (8-1), who picked up the win after starter John Thomson succumbed to shoulder stiffness and left with one out in the third, gave up three runs, four hits and one walk and struck out two in 2 1 /3 innings.
After McCann’s RBI single gave the Braves a 1-0 lead in the first, Atlanta scored three runs off Arroyo in the second. Thorman hit his second homer before Brian Giles’ RBI single and Andruw Jones’ sacrifice fly.
The Braves led 6-0 lead in the fifth after Francoeur’s 17 th homer and Ryan Langerhans’ RBI double off Arroyo. Andruw Jones homered off Todd Coffey in the sixth.
Thomson, who allowed two hits, one walk and struck out two, is 0-4 with a 9.39 ERA in his last six starts. The right-hander was on the disabled list from June 16 to July 3 with a blister on his right middle finger.
"It’s tight, so it’s not allowing me to get out front when I throw, so I’m getting a lot of pitches off," Thomson said. "That’s why everything I threw today — all my fastballs looked like cutters."
Arroyo lost for the third time in four starts, a span of 24 1 /3 innings. The right-hander, who joined Cincinnati in an offseason trade with the Boston Red Sox, had pitched at least five innings since Sept. 28, when Boston lost to Toronto. "I had a bad one the last time out," Arroyo said. "You don’t want to have bad ones back-toback. Sometimes when you’re rolling downhill, it’s hard to stop."
