Sunday, May 3, 1998

BY SCOTT MacGREGOR
The Cincinnati Enquirer

MILWAUKEE -- Barry Larkin had to leave Saturday's game against the Brewers in the eighth inning with spasms in his neck, but he said it was nothing serious. He'll be evaluated daily.

Larkin, who broke out of his career-worst 0-for-30 slump with a single in the top of the eighth inning, strained a muscle on the left side of his neck looking up at an infield popup in the bottom of the inning.

It's in the same area as the disk problem he had in spring training that put him out three weeks after surgery, but Larkin said it's unrelated.

"I thought something might have happened to my incision, that it might have pulled my stitches out," he said. "But it was a little lower. It's sore."

The 0-for-30 slump was by far the worst of Larkin's 11-year career. Three times he had gone 0-for-19.

Casey at the bat

Rookie first baseman Sean Casey began his rehab assignment Friday at Triple-A Indianapolis and went 2-for-4 with one RBI, one walk and three runs. It was his first game since eye surgery on April 8. Casey may join the Reds on Tuesday in Montreal and likely will be the starting first baseman soon after. If Casey does take the first base job, manager Jack McKeon will have a tough decision to make.

Dmitri Young, who has been playing first base on a regular basis lately, is hitting too well (.329) to take out of the lineup, so he could go to right field. But Jon Nunnally is starting to come out of his slump and Reggie Sanders is hitting only .218. With three outfielders and only two positions, someone will get squeezed out for starting time.

Nieves hot

Outfielder Melvin Nieves continues to tear up Triple-A on his rehab assignment from hernia surgery. He has a seven-game hitting streak (12-for-29, .414, three doubles, seven RBI) after going 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI Friday. He could be called up soon.

In 10 rehab games, Nieves is hitting .342 with three doubles, one homer and 11 RBI. More importantly, he has struck out only four times.

Nunnally healing

Nunnally was back in the lineup after missing four starts with a strained hamstring. He started in center field Saturday, going 2-for-2 with two walks and a homer, his second of the year. But most impressive was his diving catch running toward the wall to rob Jeff Cirillo of extra bases.

Before the game, Nunnally said the hamstring felt fine, but he didn't know how it would react to a whole game. He said afterward it would be OK.

"With injuries like that, you just never know," he said. "You've just got to play and find out."

Sanders, who hyperextended his lower back Monday, the same night of Nunnally's injury, didn't start again Saturday but did take batting practice in the indoor cages.

This old house

McKeon isn't a huge fan of the 45-year-old Milwaukee County Stadium. "I didn't realize this place was as old and dilapidated as it is," said McKeon, who last managed here in 1978 while with Oakland. "It's as raunchy now as it was then."

He particularly enjoys the bullpens. The Reds' is underneath the right-field scoreboard, while Brewers' relievers sit in a booth that looks like a shelter at a bus stop.

"That thing looks like it's going to blow over," McKeon said. and Ernie

Reds can now do the live version of Sesame Street On Ice, thanks to a mistake in a newspaper article.

The team already had a Bert -- pitcher Brett Tomko, whom McKeon often calls Bert by mistake. Now they have Bert's best friend and roommate, Ernie -- also known as Eduardo Perez. A story in Saturday's Milwaukee Journal Sentinel referred to Perez as "Ernie Perez" and several teammates have begun calling him by his new name. Derby winner: Reds' broadcaster Marty Brennaman won the press box pool for the Kentucky Derby, picking Real Quiet in a random drawing.

Up next

The Reds and Brewers conclude their series with a 2:05 p.m. start from County Stadium. Reds' ace Brett Tomko (3-1, 2.41) opposes Brewers' right-hander Cal Eldred (0-0, 1.67).