John Fay

jfay@enquirer.com

PHOENIX -- Ryan Ludwick started in left field for the first time in three games Sunday. Ludwick, heretofore the starter, is no longer going to play every day -- or close to it.

"We're going to mix and match," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "I've spoke to Ryan about that. I'm also optimistic he'll get himself into full swing and have more impact over the course of the year. But I felt like we needed to give some other guys some opportunity to get out there and perform.

"He was very professional about it. It's a very difficult situation to talk to an established player about playing time. But he was a total pro about it. I really appreciated that. He could have made it more difficult."

Ludwick made the most of his start. He hit a home run and singled and made two nice plays in left.

Skip Schumaker started the previous two games in left. He and Chris Heisey will be in the mix for playing time with Ludwick. Schumaker is the only one of the three who is a left-handed hitter.

"At this point, those are the guys who would be in the mix," Price said.

Heisey's numbers are considerably better a sub than a starter.

Ludwick is hitting .253 with four home runs and 18 RBI. Heisey is hitting .239 with two home runs and eight RBI. Schumaker is hitting .246 with a home run and seven RBI.