CINCINNATI -- Two days in a row, two awkward approaches to bases, one at third base, one at first base and the Reds find themselves without middle infielders Brandon Phillips and Zack Cozart.
In the case of Cozart, the Reds are awaiting word on their shortstop's right knee, hoping for the best but fearful of the worst.
"I think it's safe to say he'll be on the DL (disable list)," said Price after Wednesday's 5-2 win against Philadelphia at Great American Ball Park that completed a three-game sweep and extended the team's winning streak to four games. "I think that's pretty reasonable. The extent of the injury is pending."
Less than 24 hours after Phillips suffered what has been diagnosed as a mild groin strain when he slid late into third base in the first inning of Tuesday night's 11-2 win against Philadelphia, Cozart was being helped off the field without putting any weight on his right leg.
In his attempt to beat out a grounder to deep shortstop, Cozart extended his right leg as he approached first base. When his foot hit the bag, it slipped and Cozart went tumbling to the dirt. He immediately grabbed his right knee, holding it with both hands as trainer Paul Lessard and others came out to attend to him.
"The thing with Cozy was one of the worst things I've seen," said Skip Schumaker. "I'm hoping for the best but I'm not so sure it's going to be too good."
Phillips and Cozart have played 427 games together and have been at the heart of the team's defensive success since Cozart became the every-day shortstop in 2012. This season they've been producing at the plate as well; Cozart is on pace to have his best season ever with nine home runs, 20 total extra base hits and 28 RBI for a .459 slugging percentage, while Phillips is producing like he was three seasons ago.
Add catcher Devin Mesoraco (hip), center fielder Billy Hamilton (wrist) and left fielder Marlon Byrd (wrist) to the list and the Reds were without five of their starting eight position players from Opening Day when Wednesday's game ended.
Kristopher Negron, who started the day in center field, moved to shortstop to replace Cozart. Brennan Boesch came off the bench to take over in center field. Ivan De Jesus, Jr., who made his Reds debut last Friday and who started Monday and Tuesday's games in left field, was starting at second base in place of Phillips on Wednesday. De Jesus. hit his second home run in three days, a three-run shot to left field in the first inning that gave the Reds a 4-0 lead.
"Having those interchangeable pieces is a great benefit," said Price.
That was before the game Wednesday.
"I don't think there's a lot of teams that could've made the moves we've made the last few days, flipping guys around in all kinds of different positions," said Schumaker, who started in left field Wednesday for the fourth time in the last five games since Byrd was injured. "Our depth is being tested but De Jesus has really stepped up, and we need guys that aren't expected to do well to do well. That's just the bottom line. Hopefully there are some guys that are going to have career years and can shoulder the injuries."
Eugenio Suarez could be making his Reds debut sooner than later. Suarez, 23, was acquired along with minor league pitcher Jonathon Crawford from Detroit last offseason in a trade that sent pitcher Alfredo Simon to the Tigers.
Suarez is hitting .256 at Triple-A Louisville but has an on-base percentage of .348 and a slugging percentage of .438. He has committed 11 errors. Suarez played in 85 games for Detroit last season after being called up in early June.
No announcement has been made regarding Suarez but if Cozart is headed to the disabled list for any length of time, Suarez would be a logical choice to replace him. The Reds view Suarez as an every-day player. That was the main reason they sent him to Louisville out of spring training. They didn't want him sitting on the bench playing only sporadically.
"It's heart-breaking is what it is, to see him carried off the field," said Price. "We all want to see him continue to have a phenomenal year and be a part of our team's success. He's just a guy who's invested so much in being really good. You look back at last year at the slow start and the struggles that he had, to see what he's been doing this year with power, hitting the ball to all fields and playing Gold Glove defense, it's a collective sadness that he's going to miss some time. It looks pretty certain that he's going to miss some time."
