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Jun 28, 2009 - 5:43 AM By MIKE LIPKA STATS Writer

Cincinnati (35-37) at Cleveland (31-44), 1:05 p.m. EDT

If their latest loss wasn't enough to dishearten the Cleveland Indians, they'll also have to move on without one of their best hitters.

A dismal performance in interleague play seems to have been enough for general manager Mark Shapiro to begin breaking up Cleveland's roster, and the Indians will be without Mark DeRosa as they try to salvage their three-game series with the visiting Cincinnati Reds on Sunday.

The trade of DeRosa to the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday for young reliever Chris Perez and a player to be named was a tangible sign Cleveland's disappointing season has begun to slip away before the All-Star break.

After Saturday night's 7-3 defeat, the Indians (31-45) have lost nine of their last 11, and now their lineup will be without the versatile DeRosa, who ranked second on the team in both home runs (13) and RBIs (50)

"We felt the time was right to maximize the value Mark had," Shapiro said.

"It has a chance to help us this season," the general manager added. "It adds a piece to the bullpen and gives some of our younger players an opportunity to continue to develop."

While the arrival of Perez could aid the team's struggling relief corps, which ranks 28th in the majors with a 4.90 ERA, the last-place Indians have a steep hill to climb in the AL Central. They trail first-place Detroit by 11 games.

Bullpen woes were certainly a problem the last time David Huff pitched. The left-hander tossed eight shutout innings against Pittsburgh on Tuesday, but Matt Herges and Kerry Wood almost coughed up a five-run lead in the ninth before holding on for a 5-4 win.

"I probably have a few gray hairs now," Huff told the Indians' official Web site. "But I'm glad we finished with the W."

The effort was still encouraging from the rookie, who is now 3-0 with a 3.20 ERA in his last four starts. Huff (3-2, 5.71 ERA) looks like a different pitcher than the one who gave up six runs in three innings against the Reds in his second career start May 23.

Joey Votto homered twice against Huff, and the powerful first baseman returned to the lineup this week after missing nearly a month due to stress-related issues. Votto had two hits and an RBI in Saturday's win, a much-needed victory for Cincinnati, which had lost five of its previous six - including a 9-2 defeat in Friday's series opener.

"The bats came alive big time," starter Homer Bailey told the Reds' official Web site. "We all needed that, especially with the way we lost (Friday)."

Cincinnati is 5-9 in interleague play, although that includes a 3-2 mark against Cleveland, which is 5-12 against the NL.

The Reds (36-37) will hope right-hander Micah Owings can help them get back to .500. This will be the second straight start in an AL park for Owings, meaning the .305 career hitter won't get a chance to bat.

Owings (4-8, 4.87) had allowed five total runs in three June starts before Tuesday, when he gave up six runs - including four on three homers - in 5 2-3 innings of a 7-5 loss at Toronto. He has never faced the Indians.

A win would give Cleveland its first series victory against the Reds since May 18-20, 2007. Cincinnati has won 10 of the last 14 against its Ohio rivals.