Scott Williamson pitches in the third inning. (Craig Ruttle photo) | ZOOM |

        Reds shortstop Barry Larkin was not in the starting lineup Wednesday night, after discussing the issue Tuesday with Jack McKeon. The manager gave Larkin the choice of resting Tuesday or Wednesday.

        “Barry struggles with his legs, through all these days on AstroTurf,” McKeon said. “Pretty soon, if you wear him out, he won't be able to play at all. The turf takes its toll. And as you get older, it gets really tough.”

        Larkin pinch hit in the seventh inning, when he walked and later scored on Benito Santiago's single. He then came on to play shortstop.

        McKeon also said center fielder Ken Griffey Jr., who has started every game but the June 1 contest against Montreal, “probably” will sit out today's series finale against Philadelphia.

        PROUD GOOKIE: You could almost hear the John Philip Sousa music in the background as Reds prospect Gookie Dawkins, who was officially named to the U.S. Olympic baseball team, explained the difference between playing in the minor leagues and performing in international competition.

        Said Dawkins: “Playing for your country is a big step. You have USA written on your chest. You have to give it your all. With USA written on your chest, anybody would give their right arm to support the country.”

        Dawkins, who played on the United States' Pan American Games squad that won the silver medal last year, doesn't mind that the Americans might enter the Olympics as a perceived underdog to Cuba and Japan.

        “We don't have the Ken Griffey Juniors or anybody like that on our team,” said Dawkins, who entered Wednesday hitting .234 for Double-A Chattanooga. “In a way, it's good to be the underdog, because when we win the gold, it'll be even better. You have to have heart and know that you can win the gold.”

        OFFSEASON ACTIVITY: Four Chattanooga players have received tentative winter league assignments: Catcher Corky Miller (Licey, Dominican League), third baseman Brandon Larson (San Juan, Puerto Rico), right-hander Ted Rose (Santurce, Puerto Rico) and left-hander Eddie Priest (Escogido, Dominican).

        Dawkins, outfielder Ben Broussard, first baseman Ron Wright, catcher Braxton Whitehead and pitchers Justin Atchley and Lance Davis will play on the Grand Canyon club in the Arizona Fall League.

        Assistant general manager Darrell “Doc” Rodgers said four top Single-A prospects — outfielders Austin Kearns and Adam Dunn and right-handers Brian Reith and Jorge Cordova — are likely to play in the inaugural Panamanian Winter League, which replaces the California Fall League.

        ETC.: The bat Alex Ochoa used to hit Tuesday's record-setting grand slam was sent to the Hall of Fame, where it will be displayed alongside the batting helmet Griffey wore when he hit his 400th home run. Ochoa also autographed the barrel of the bat, which was caked with pine tar and stickum. “It was my "gamer,' but that's all right,” Ochoa said of the 34 1/2-inch, 32-ounce bat. “The only bad thing was that we lost the game.”

        • Leaning a little too close to the batting cage, general manager Jim Bowden suffered a scrape on his nose when a Scott Williamson batting practice foul ball extended the protective netting around the batting cage and glanced off his face.

        • Contrary to what agent Scott Boras said Tuesday, a spokesman for the University of Miami said David Espinosa, the shortstop the Reds selected in the first round of June's amateur draft, did not attend the beginning of classes Wednesday. The Reds will lose their rights to sign Espinosa if he enters Miami, though they still can try to sign him if he attends a junior college.

        • Reliever Mark Wohlers said he thought his stomach pain was a “tweaked” muscle. He had another examination Wednesday, following two days of extensive tests, leaving him certain that he doesn't have a more serious ailment. “This morning I started feeling better,” he said. “It doesn't hurt to throw, so I'm not going to worry about it.”

        UP NEXT: Steve Parris (7-14) seeks his third consecutive victory in today's series finale against Philadelphia and left-hander Omar Daal. Parris is 0-5 with a 7.30 ERA in six career starts against the Phillies.

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