Orlando Cabrera back in the lineup for desperate Reds

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Knowing that his Reds have no tomorrow if they lose today, Cincinnati Manager Dusty Baker pulled Paul Janish from his starting lineup and inserted the injured Orlando Cabrera in his place less than two hours before Sunday’s third game of the National League Division Series.

The most experienced Red in terms of the playoff, having played in 34 postseason games for Boston, the Angels, the White Sox and Minnesota, Cabrera was pulled from Friday’s Game 2 with soreness in his left ribcage. Cabrera missed 27 games in August and September with a muscle strain there.

But after Cabrera met with a team doctor, then took batting and infield practice, Baker was convinced the former Gold Glove shortstop was well enough to play. The Reds were so uncertain of Cabrera’s status during Saturday’s workout they summoned minor leaguer Chris Valaika from Arizona in case they had to replace Cabrera on their roster.

-- Kevin Baxter in Cincinnati