Barry Larkin tried but failed to convince manager Bob Boone to return him to the starting lineup Sunday.

        Boone wanted to rest Larkin and his troublesome groin, which has caused him to miss seven starts. Boone might give Larkin occasional rests and remove him from some games in the late innings.

        Larkin, who said he woke up Sunday feeling relatively fine, was good-natured as he discussed his chat with Boone.

        “He's a tough cookie to crack,” Larkin said. “Maybe I'll get to him through his son (third baseman Aaron) — find a soft spot.”

        Larkin did enter the game in the seventh inning Sunday night. He went 0-for-2, including a strikeout against Billy Wagner for the final out of the game.

        Larkin said Reds trainers have been “doing some different things” in taping his groin to limit his range of motion so he doesn't overextend it.

Astros 4, Reds 3 Griffey out another 3-4 weeks Bell may get early bell Boone playing cautious with Larkin Reds box, runs

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