Don't let Thursday's score fool you. The Reds' 8-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies remained very much in doubt toward the end.

        Cincinnati's patchwork bullpen, which lacked the services of overworked Scott Sullivan and Danny Graves, survived Phillies' threats in the seventh and eighth innings.

        This tightrope act could be staged again in tonight's series opener against the Florida Marlins at Pro Player Stadium, because manager Jack McKeon said Sullivan, his top set-up specialist, would remain unavailable.

        At least McKeon will have had practice watching the bullpen scramble.

        “A few times, it got scary,” he said, referring to Thursday's finish.

        Philadelphia's Travis Lee, a left-handed power hitter, represented the potential tying run with two outs in the seventh and the Reds leading 5-2, but left-hander Dennys Reyes relieved starter Steve Parris and struck out Lee, stranding Phillies on second and third. Reyes has his last 10 inherited runners from scoring.

        Reyes loaded the bases with nobody out in the eighth, again bringing the possible tying run to the plate with Cincinnati leading 6-2. In came Larry Luebbers. The Cincinnati native, who has made eight of his nine appearances in relief after starting all but 14 of his 263 professional appearances before this year, coaxed a double-play grounder from Tom Prince. He then retired pinch-hitter Rob Ducey to end the inning with just one run scoring.

        “Whatever they want me to do, I don't care, as long as I get in. It's definitely a little different,” Luebbers said of relieving. “You're in the game every day, which is kind of nice. It's a different scenario than when you're starting and you have four days to worry about your next start.”

        McKeon explained that he inserted Mark Wohlers for the ninth because Luebbers might be needed tonight in Sullivan's role.

        REESE TO RETURN?: Dr. Tim Kremchek, the Reds' team physician, said second baseman Pokey Reese's seven-game absence with a strained left hamstring could end soon.

        “I expect him to play this weekend in Florida and certainly by Atlanta,” Kremchek said. “We discussed putting him on the disabled list and we decided not to, because we think he's going to be available next week.”

        GRAVES TO TOUR: Reds reliever Danny Graves has been chosen to join a group of top major leaguers who will play an eight-game exhibition series in Japan from Nov.3-11.

        Typically, American players who participate enjoy this tour.

        “I've heard nothing but good things about it,” said Graves, who began to build his reputation last month when he was named to the NL's All-Star team. “It's an awesome experience, they say, just to be able to hang out with the other guys who you're usually trying to get out. It's like the All-Star Game, but that was only one game. Now it's eight games that we spend getting to know each other. And then all the sightseeing. I've heard Japan's a great country to visit.”

        Graves, the first Vietnamese-born player to reach the majors, will be visiting Asia for the first time since his family left when he was 14 months old.

        “It's not the same,” he said, comparing Japan with Vietnam. “But the Orient is the Orient.”

        "JINX' INTERRUPTED: Sporting an 0-5 record with a 7.30 ERA in six career starts against Philadelphia, Steve Parris ended that trend and instead continued his recent success.

        Parris (8-14) allowed two runs on three consecutive doubles in the first inning but blanked the Phillies for the rest of his 6 2/3-inning stint.

        “The Philly curse is off,” said Parris, who won his third consecutive start. “Ever since they released me (in 1993), they put a hex on me. Hopefully today I lifted it.”

        ETC.: As he planned, McKeon rested center fielder Ken Griffey Jr., who had missed only the June 1 game against Montreal. McKeon said that he also intended to give right fielder Dante Bichette a break soon.

        • Osvaldo Fernandez's MRI examination showed no abnormalities in his tender shoulder, which will enable the right-hander to continue his injury rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville. Fernandez had been trying to overcome a sore elbow before his shoulder began nagging him.

        • The starting time for next Wednesday's game at Atlanta has been changed to 7:10 p.m. to accommodate ESPN.

        UP NEXT: Elmer Dessens (5-4) could be fighting to maintain his spot in the starting rotation in tonight's opener against the Marlins and right-hander Reid Cornelius (3-6). Dessens has lost his last four starts, recording a 5.55 ERA in that span.

DAUGHERTY: Griffey vs. Marty Griffey and Marty are the talk of the town Reds leave on positive note Reds notebook Reds vs. Marlins Scouting Report

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