Scooter Gennett's Sore Shoulder Keeps Him On The Bench

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The Reds have been hitting the ball better and getting some wins.  The Reds' won four of the last seven games.

Scooter Gennett has been dealing with a sore shoulder since the third day of spring training.  It has persisted to the point he had an MRI this morning.

"I think a couple of days without throwing will be good.  I was the DH yesterday.  I hope it will be back to normal by Friday," Gennett said.

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Alex Blandino will be at second base until Gennett gets enough rest to return.

"Gennett's shoulder has been a little tender.  He's a tough little guy but he's not getting his arm in a slot to throw," Jim Riggleman, the Reds' interim manager said.  "Blandino has really played good.  It is a testament to the scouting department.  He's a pretty skilled guy.  He throws the ball pretty well.  He has enough arm to play shortstop and has great hands.  With anybody, the question is with the bat and he's been swinging the bat good."

Blandino raised his average to .256 after a slow start of 1-for-17 after being recalled when Eugenio Suarez was out with a broken thumb.  He is working on a seven-game hitting streak.  Blandino, whose father was born in Nicaragua, played for that country in the World Baseball Classic.

Gennett is available to pinch hit but realizes he needs to get right.

"It affects everything.  I have been late on a lot of pitches, I'm not normally late on," Gennett said.  "I'm not the type of person to make excuses."  Gennett is hitting .301 with two home runs and 14 RBI.

There have been a couple games where his inability to throw have cost the Reds some games.  The winning run in the 12-inning game on April 11 was the result of a Gennett error.  There have other games when double plays that should have been turned, were not.

"If I can lift up my arm, I feel like I should be out there," Gennett said.  "Is it enough to help the team?  Right now, that's kind of where I'm at.  If I'm knocking in more than I'm letting in I could deal with it.  It is not right for me to say that I'm good and hurt the team in some type of way."