According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, Reds SS Jeff Keppinger, who broke his left kneecap about two weeks ago, has been hitting in the cage for almost a week. He's also walking without a limp. "It's a lot better," Keppinger said, "better than I thought it would be. I don't feel any pain, just some discomfort."

Keppinger hitting, walking without limp ... [...]

With shortstop Jeff Keppinger on the 15-day disabled list, utilityman Jerry Hairston Jr. started at short for the Reds and committed a two-base throwing error on Russell Martin's routine grounder -- allowing two runs to score and trimming Cincinnati's lead to 4-2 in the third. "When you're down a couple of runs and they give you a couple of extra chances, you've got to do your best to capitalize on their mistakes," DeWitt said.

With shortstop Jeff Keppinger on the 15-day disabled list, utilityman Jerry Hairston Jr. started at short for the Reds and committed a two-base throwing error on Russell Martin's routine grounder -- allowing two runs to score and trimming Cincinnati's lead to 4-2 in the third. "When you're down a couple of runs and they give you a couple of extra chances, you've got to do your best to capitalize on their mistakes," 3B Blake DeWitt said.

Shortstop Jeff Keppinger will be sidelined for 4-to-6 weeks with a broken left kneecap, leaving the Cincinnati Reds without their best clutch hitter and their most consistent hitter so far. The Reds called up Paul Janish from Triple-A Louisville to take his roster spot. The 25-year-old shortstop has never played in the majors. Manager Dusty Baker plans to use Jerry Hairston Jr. at shortstop for now, working Janish in slowly. Hairston is batting .316. "He (Janish) is a true shortstop, but Jerry's doing a great job offensively and we've been having trouble offensively," Baker said. "You've got to have some offense to replace a key offensive guy."

Shortstop Jeff Keppinger will be sidelined for 4-to-6 weeks with a broken left kneecap, leaving the Cincinnati Reds without their best clutch hitter and their most consistent hitter so far. Keppinger fouled a pitch off his knee during a 5-3 win over Florida on Tuesday night. He stayed in the game for two innings, but took himself out when the pain and swelling in the knee started limiting his range. He went for a medical test on Wednesday to judge the severity of the fracture, and doctors gave the estimate for his return. Keppinger opened the season at shortstop because Alex Gonzalez is recovering from a compression fracture in his left knee. Gonzalez suffered the injury early during spring training and isn't close to returning.

Keppenger out 4-to-6 weeks with kneecap ... [...]

Reds place Keppinger on disabled list ... [...]

Reds shortstop Jeff Keppinger left Tuesday night's game against the Florida Marlins with a broken left kneecap. Keppinger fouled a pitch off his knee in the second inning. He drew a bases-loaded walk, giving the Reds a 2-0 lead, and played defense in the third and fourth innings before departing for X-rays. Keppinger is scheduled for an MRI exam Wednesday. "It's a real big loss," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "But you have two choices. You can either feel sorry for yourself or you can find a way to get the job done." Corey Patterson hit for Keppinger in the bottom of the fourth inning and stayed in the game to play center field in the fifth. Ryan Freel moved from center to right and Jerry Hairston Jr. switched from right to shortstop.

Reds shortstop Jeff Keppinger left Tuesday night's game against the Florida Marlins with a broken left kneecap. Keppinger fouled a pitch off his knee in the second inning. He drew a bases-loaded walk, giving the Reds a 2-0 lead, and played defense in the third and fourth innings before departing for X-rays. Keppinger is scheduled for an MRI exam Wednesday. Corey Patterson hit for Keppinger in the bottom of the fourth inning and stayed in the game to play center field in the fifth. Ryan Freel moved from center to right and Jerry Hairston Jr. switched from right to shortstop.

Reds' Keppinger fractures kneecap ... [...]

Reds' Keppinger leaves with leg injury ... [...]

Jeff Keppinger and Brandon Phillips hit two-run homers in the seventh inning for the Cincinnati Reds Monday night, breaking open a tied game and sending right-hander Aaron Harang to a long-awaited victory, 8-7 over the surging Florida Marlins. Keppinger had the lone hit in five at-bats Monday, but is 9-for-17 (.529) with four RBI over his last four games.

Jeff Keppinger and Brandon Phillips hit two-run homers in the seventh inning for the Cincinnati Reds Monday night, breaking open a tied game and sending right-hander Aaron Harang to a long-awaited victory, 8-7 over the surging Florida Marlins. Phillips finished the game 2-for-4. Phillips is 7-for-15 (.467) with two homers and three RBI over his last four games.

Jeff Keppinger and Brandon Phillips hit two-run homers in the seventh inning for the Cincinnati Reds Monday night, breaking open a tied game and sending Aaron Harang to a long-awaited victory, 8-7 over the surging Florida Marlins. It looked good early for Florida as they piled up three solo homers off Harang (2-5). However, Cincinnati's wildly inconsistent offense came through for its No. 1 starter. The Reds hadn't scored more than five runs in any game behind Harang, who gave up four runs and seven hits in seven innings before turning his rare lead over to the bullpen. Harang walked two and struck out four.

Keppinger hits third homer in Reds win ... [...]

Reds shortstop Jeff Keppinger had a hit in seven straight at-bats before striking out in the eighth inning Sunday against the Mets. He went 5-for-5 in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader before adding a single and triple Sunday. He also had one RBI and one walk.

Reds' Keppinger goes 5-for-5 ... [...]

The Sports Xchange reports that Reds SS Jeff Keppinger, leading the majors at .444 with runners in scoring position, was given Wednesday off after playing in all of the first 34 games, 33 as a starter.

SS Jeff Keppinger leads the NL in hitting with runners in scoring position (.444) and strikes out once every 19.9 at-bats, the third-best ratio in the NL.

Reds SS Jeff Keppinger stroked a two-run single in the first inning Monday against the Cubs. It ended up being his only hit in three at-bats. Keppinger has now hit safely in his last three games (4-for-10). He has three RBI in that span.