Although center fielder Mark Kotsay has been reporting steady improvement in how his back feels, to the point where he thought he might be able to pinch hit in an emergency in Thursday's day game in Milwaukee, the Braves weren't able to continue the day-to-day will-he-or-won't-he. Not once outfielder Matt Diaz was lost for four-to-six weeks with a strained left posterior cruciate ligament.
Because manager Bobby Cox could not be certain he wouldn't need a lot of innings from the bullpen to cover the starts of pitchers Jo-Jo Reyes, Jorge Campillo and Jair Jurrjens, the Braves kept the entire relief squad when right-hander Rafael Soriano was activated May 28. Reyes pitched seven brilliant innings May 28 without incident, but Campillo, while terrific in his start May 29, lasted only five innings before one of his three blisters burst. Jurrjens pitches Saturday.
Carrying 13 pitchers means the bench was already short, and that was counting Kotsay, who couldn't really play. Especially considering the lack of offense on the road, Cox really couldn't take that chance.
Outfielder Josh Anderson, who impressed Cox in spring training, got the call from Class AAA Richmond. A speedy switch-hitter, Anderson can play all three outfield positions.
REDS 3, BRAVES 2 (11 innings): Left-hander Tom Glavine allowed only two runs but the Braves' offense was dormant. Third baseman Chipper Jones was 0-for-5 and two balls through his legs in the bottom of the 11th allowed the winning run to score.
