Manager Bob Boone conducted extra throwing drills for Cincinnati's outfielders before batting practice.

        Declaring that fielding practice has been “kind of lost in this game,” Boone said he wanted the outfielders to work on throwing without a cutoff man “so they can see where they can throw the ball, get used to it ... and stretch their arms out.” This, Boone said, would be preferable to an extended pregame infield workout.

        Boone said outfielders would receive this extra work occasionally, adding that catchers would get similar tutorials.

        Boone also worked with catcher Jason LaRue on the basics of catching throws, which isn't as simple as it might seem. LaRue failed to handle a throw in San Francisco last week on a play at home plate. Emphasizing that throws should be caught as an infielder would snag a grounder — by using his legs — Boone had LaRue take short-hop grounders from bench coach Tim Foli at third base.

        “It's all about positioning your weight. The trap catchers get in is that they set themselves for a crash,” Boone said. “And if the throw's not perfect, they're in a bad position to catch the ball.”

        SHODDY PLAYS: Two bad defensive plays led to three Dodgers runs in the seventh. Reliever Mark Wohlers muffed Shawn Green's comebacker for an error, then LaRue staggered under Eric Karros' pop-up and missed it, loading the bases for Dave Hansen's three-run double.

        “I don't know if I've ever seen two plays back-to-back like that, ever,” Bob Boone said.

        ETC.: The Reds signed outfielder Scott Sollman, a St.Xavier High School graduate, to a minor-league contract. Sollman, 24, who has played in the Detroit, Milwaukee and Toronto organizations, will join Double-A Chattanooga after spending a week at extended spring training.

        • Reese notched the 100th stolen base of his career when he took third base without drawing a throw in Tuesday's second inning.

        • To accommodate Deion Sanders on the 40-man roster, Triple-A right-hander Keith Glauber accepted an outright assignment to Louisville.

        • Reds infield prospect Gookie Dawkins was in town to have team physicians examine his right knee. Dawkins, playing for Double-A Chattanooga, suffered a mildly sprained medial collateral ligament while rounding third base recently. He's expected to rejoin the team Friday.

        UP NEXT: Pete Harnisch (1-2) will face Los Angeles ace Kevin Brown (3-1), who's 6-1 with a 1.52 ERA in his career against Cincinnati.

Reds 7, Dodgers 6 Will Deion stay past kickoff? Will OF crunch prompt trade? Casey should return quickly Newcomer Clark already turning heads Boone drills outfielders on throws Reds box, runs

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