Shortstop Barry Larkin had the stitches removed from his injured left hand Friday. But he's still bound by inactivity, figuratively speaking.

        Assistant trainer Mark Mann said Saturday that Larkin won't be allowed to try gripping or swinging a bat until next weekend at the earliest, when the team's in Houston.

        More likely, said Mann, Larkin will begin testing his hand with baseball-related activities after the team returns from Houston to open a home series May 16 against Pittsburgh.

        Larkin went on the 15-day disabled list after tearing the sheath surrounding the tendon on his middle finger while diving for a ball on April 21.

        MUM'S THE WORD: Ken Griffey Jr. wasn't around Friday night to discuss his game-winning home run. Saturday, he explained himself.

        “I've done enough talking,” he said without malice. “It's time just to play ball.”

        The Reds center fielder admitted that he was as tounded by Mark McGwire's now-legendary home run Friday, which landed an estimated 473 feet from home plate in the upper-deck red seats.

        “I just don't get altitude like that (on his home runs),” Griffey said. “The funny thing was, it wasn't the people sitting in the green level that were looking up, but the people in the yellow level. The people in the red were (cringing).”

        CASTRO TO STAY: Manager Jack McKeon indicated that Gookie Dawkins likely will return to the minors instead of utilityman Juan Castro when Larkin is activated.

        “Gookie needs to play,” McKeon said.

        Castro started his second game in a row Saturday and continued to dispel his reputation as a light hitter, whacking a double. He also doubled on Friday. Increased playing time, said McKeon, often improves a hitter's prowess.

        “But,” said McKeon, “you know (Castro's) not going to play every day once Larkin comes back.”

        HITTING MACHINE: Dmitri Young grounded a sixth-inning single past shortstop to lengthen his team- and career-high hitting streak to 14 games.

        Young, who drove in the Reds' lone run with an eighth-inning groundout, has hit .373 during the streak, lifting his average from .204 to .286.

        UP NEXT: Denny Neagle will put his twin streaks on the line in today's series finale against St. Louis and heralded left-hander Rick Ankiel.

        Neagle (3-0, 2.61 ERA) has won nine consecutive decisions dating back to last year and has thrown 18 scoreless innings in a row. He has won each of his last three starts while posting an 0.43 ERA in that stretch.

        Ankiel (3-1, 2.90) will be making his first career appearance against the Reds.

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