SARASOTA, Fla. — Barry Larkin's return Sunday marked the debut of the Reds' projected Opening Day lineup. The Reds celebrated by beating the Boston Red Sox 3-0 before a sellout crowd of 7,406 at Ed Smith Stadium.

        Larkin started for the first time since March 10. He went 1-for-3 Sunday with a stolen base. A strained right groin has kept him out of all but five games this spring.

        “Good, real good,” Larkin said when asked how it felt. “No problems at all. I didn't feel anything at any time.”

        With Larkin back, Reds manager Bob Boone said the starting eight — Larkin (SS), Dmitri Young (LF), Ken Griffey Jr. (CF), Sean Casey (1B), Alex Ochoa (RF), Aaron Boone (3B), Pokey Reese (2B) and Jason LaRue (C) — will start playing on a regular basis from now until the end of spring training. The season opener is next Monday.

        “We're going to start playing it straight,” Boone said. “We've worked getting individuals ready. Now, we're going to work on the team game.”

        Boone's goal is to get Larkin 20 at-bats before the Reds head north.

        Larkin said he's not quite 100 percent and he won't be his usual aggressive self until he is.

        “The only reason I stole third is I started and didn't want to stop,” he said. “I'm not going to steal second until I'm 100 percent.”

Larkin returns to lineup Pitchers will take regular turns Reitsma looks like starter Game report: Reds 3, Red Sox 0

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