Reds Already Looking to the Future

The Cincinnati Reds have fallen out of contention in the Central Division. As a result Terry Pendleton is gone, Jeff Branson is on the way out and other veterans will follow.

The Reds have decided to keep young players such as Pokey Reese, Curtis Goodwin, Mike Kelly and Eric Owens and give them experience.

“We know our direction. It’s not just been idle talk about getting younger and playing younger people,” Manager Ray Knight said. “The time has just arrived.”

*

St. Louis Cardinal right-hander Alan Benes should be on his way to a 20-victory season. Instead, he is only one game above .500.

Benes is fourth in the league with a 2.68 earned-run average. He’s the second-toughest starting pitcher to hit, holding opponents to a .209 average. He’s third with 153 strikeouts, 23 more than he had all of last season. But he’s only 9-8.

“Every now and then you get a little frustrated when you look up in the eighth inning and you’ve given up one run or no runs and you’re in a tie game or you’re losing the game,” Benes said. “That’s the way baseball is.”

*

Cuban defector Livan Hernandez, 22, has won his last three starts for the Florida Marlins and the rookie right-hander takes a 3-0 record into tonight’s game against the Cardinals at St. Louis.

In four starts, Hernandez has an ERA of 2.95, including 1.70 over the past 19 2/3 innings. He has 19 strikeouts and 10 walks and 22 1/3 innings.