MILWAUKEE — Though school's ending in most places, the onset of interleague play means more studying for Bob Boone. And the Reds' manager doesn't like it.

        “It's more work. You have to prepare for more teams,” said Boone, who will lead the Reds into Cleveland for a three-game series beginning Friday, then into Chicago for three games with the White Sox. “Both sides are going in there partially unprepared.”

        Boone, who managed the Kansas City Royals from 1995-97, also thinks AL teams have an edge when they face an NL opponent at home, because they're accustomed to using the designated hitter. He pointed out that, because NL clubs already have their best bat in the lineup, adding an extra hitter isn't much of a bonus.

        “Maybe we could waive it and go through eight (hitters, without the pitcher),” Boone jokingly said.

        Boone said he hadn't considered whom to use as his DH this weekend at Cleveland, though with right-handers Charles Nagy, Dave Burba and Jaret Wright scheduled to start for the Indians, left-handed D.T. Cromer appears to be a likely choice. Deion Sanders is another possibility.

        Dmitri Young filled the DH role in four of Cincinnati's six road interleague games last year (Barry Larkin and Hal Morris were the others) and hit .400 (6-for-15) with two homers and four RBI. But the Reds' injuries have necessitated Young's appearance at first base, third base and left field.

        FRIENDLY RIVALS: Milwaukee slugger Richie Sexson and Sean Casey are buddies, dating to their upbringing in Cleveland's minor-league system. Though both were first base prospects, the notion they someday might have to battle for the same position never was a problem.

        “We both knew we were good players and in the end, things would work out,” Sexson said.

        Ultimately, Cleveland traded Casey to the Reds for right-hander Dave Burba on the eve of Opening Day 1998, then dealt Sexson to Milwaukee in a seven-player swap last year.

        HEARTFELT GESTURE: Ochoa said that he was honoring his late grandfather, Emiliano Jaime, when he looked and pointed skyward with both hands upon touching home plate after hitting his ninth-inning home run Tuesday.

        “He died in 1994, but I always have him close to my heart,” Ochoa said.

        Ochoa's grandfather somehow became a huge Reds fan while living in Cuba. “That's why when I got traded (to Cincinnati), I told my grandmother that he guided me to the Reds,” Ochoa said.

       UP NEXT: The Reds open a three-game series at Cleveland Friday. The probable pitching matchups: Friday, Rob Bell (0-4, 5.00 ERA) vs. Nagy (1-0, 1.29); Saturday, Osvaldo Fernandez (5-5, 6.34) vs. Burba (7-2, 6.02); Sunday, Chris Reitsma (2-5, 4.08) vs. Wright (2-0, 2.61).

Reds 6, Brewers 3 Dessens befuddles Brewers Boone dislikes interleague play Reds load up on pitchers in draft Reds box, runs

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