John Fay

jfay@enquirer.com

CHICAGO -- The Reds activated left-hander Sean Marshall from the disabled list before today's game. To make room for Marshall on the roster, right-hander Curtis Partch was optioned to Triple-A Louisville.

Marshall was on the disabled list with shoulder problems. He gives the Reds two left-handers in the bullpen.

"It's not just having two lefties," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "It's having Sean Marshall back. He's really good."

Manny Parra has been the only left-hander in the bullpen until now.

"Just having Manny, we really had to be particular when we used him," Price said. "There were going to be those times when if he could get the ninth with the lead, Manny would be the best to match up with that particular section of the lineup. Yet, you might need him in the seventh or sixth."

Partch, 27, appeared three games. He did not allow a run over 4 1/3 innings, i.e., he did nothing to get demoted.

"It's always disappointing," Price said. "You don't have guys up here who you don't want up here. The one thing about Curtis is of all the guys we have up here, he's the guy who needs to pitch the most consistently because he's right on that edge of defining himself as a true big league pitcher. He certainly has the stuff, but the consistency isn't going to come without pitching."

Partch, the club's 26th-roud pick in 2007, throws up to 98.

Innings have been hard to come by for the Reds bullpen. Logan Ondrusek hasn't pitched his April 8. J.J. Hoover and Nick Christiani have pitched once in the last week.

"That has something to do with the two days we had off and the fact that the starters have been so good," Price said.