Just a half hour before tonight's Sarasota Reds game, 2004 fourth-rounder Rafael Gonzalez decided to retire. After posting ERAs of 3.77 in May and 4.33 in June, the wheels fell off for the one-time #6 Reds prospect in July. He was 2-2 with a 7.25 ERA this month, including an utterly disastrous July 15th game against the Minnesota Twins' affiliate Fort Myers. Gonzalez's line: L, 1.1 IP, 10 H, 10 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO. But his second to last start as a pro: W, 6 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 SO at Clearwater (Phillies) on 7/20.

Meanwhile, infielder Jake Kahaulelio was promoted to Carolina.