Reds SS Alex Gonzalez goes back on DL with bone chips in elbow

Reds SS Gonzalez goes on DL again

CINCINNATI — Reds shortstop Alex Gonzalez went back on the disabled list Saturday with bone chips in his throwing elbow, the latest setback to a Cincinnati infield that has been in flux all season.

Gonzalez went on the 15-day disabled list a day after he felt pain on a swing during batting practice. The Reds called up infielder Danny Richar from Triple-A Louisville to take his place.

Gonzalez signed a three-year, $14 million contract before the 2007 season. He played in only 110 games in his first year with Cincinnati, going on the bereavement list three times to deal with a child’s illness. He missed all last season with a compression fracture in his left knee.

Pulled muscles in his left side forced him to miss nine games in May. He was batting .214 with two homers and 20 RBIs when his right elbow locked up during a swing on Friday night, prompting him to get scratched from the lineup. Tests found four chips in the elbow that will be removed surgically in the next few days.

Gonzalez is expected to be sidelined for at least three weeks.

“That got me down yesterday when Gonzo said he couldn’t play,” manager Dusty Baker said.

Baker has been shuffling his infield all season because of injuries and illness.

Third baseman Edwin Encarnacion went on the disabled list in April after chipping a bone in his left wrist on a swing. Second baseman Brandon Phillips was briefly sidelined by the flu. First baseman Joey Votto got the flu and an inner-ear infection that resulted in severe dizziness. Votto developed stress issues while recovering from his dizzy spells, and is on a rehabilitation assignment at Class A Dayton.

“Remember in spring training when I said for us to win this thing we’re going to need everybody?” Baker said. “I hoped that didn’t have to be right, but it is.”

Despite the injuries, the Reds’ rotation and bullpen have kept them in contention. They were in third place in the NL Central at 34-32 heading into Saturday’s game against the Chicago White Sox, trailing Milwaukee by 2½ games.

“We’re lucky we have a little distance on .500,” Baker said. “If you can stay around .500 the rest of the year until you make your move, you’ll be in the race.”

Richar batted .290 with four homers at Louisville, where he was primarily a second baseman.