PITTSBURGH — Scott Williamson's ERA was a little swollen, but his essential body parts were fine the day after he made his first start since coming off the disabled list.

        Williamson, who had been sidelined by back spasms, allowed four runs (three earned) and six hits in 3 2/3 innings in the first game of Friday's doubleheader. He took the loss in Pittsburgh's 7-3 victory.

        “My back feels great and my arm felt good,” said Williamson, who complained only of some rustiness. “I just have to go out and pitch. I've got to get the cobwebs out.”

        Manager Jack McKeon hasn't settled on his starting rotation beyond Monday, when Pete Harnisch will pitch the series opener against the Chicago Cubs at Cinergy Field, so it's uncertain when Williamson will make his next start.

        RECORD LARCENY: Pittsburgh's Jason Kendall, who entered Saturday with 19 stolen bases, is closing in on becoming the first catcher to steal 20 or more bases in three seasons. He had 22 last year and 26, a National League record for catchers, in 1998.

        “I think it's going to be kind of cool to do it because of how long the game has been going on,” Kendall said. “It shocked me to hear that nobody else has ever done it.”

        John Wathan, Ray Schalk and Johnny Kling are the other catchers to steal 20 or more bases twice.

        Asked if stealing 20 bases represented a personal triumph, given the horrific dislocated ankle he suffered last year, Kendall said: “In other people's eyes, it might be a big deal. I knew the speed would be back. But I can see where other people would think that.”

        ETC.: Former Reds Denny Neagle and Stan Belinda, who spent substantial portions of their careers in Pittsburgh, were named to the Pirates' All-Three Rivers Stadium team of the 1990s.

        UP NEXT: Elmer Dessens (7-5) will make his second start of the season against his former teammates in today's series finale. Dessens received the loss in Pittsburgh's 7-3 triumph at Cinergy Field on Aug.20, yielding five runs and six hits in 4ô innings. He'll be opposed by left-hander Jimmy Anderson (5-8), who's 0-1 in two starts against the Reds this year.

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