Larkin

        Ask Barry Larkin why he kept quiet the fact he was playing with a sports hernia, and he shrugs.

        “I've never been one to make excuses,” he said. “I'm not going to start now. Every player out there is playing with something.”

        Larkin admits the sports hernia, which was diagnosed during spring training, is more than something.

        “It's a lot more,” he said.

        The hernia doesn't affect Larkin when he's doing everyday things.

        “But it affects me when I do anything athletic,” he said. “Run, bend over, bend my knees.”

        But what has Larkin on the disabled list right now is a pulled right groin muscle. When that heals sufficiently, he'll return to playing — as long as the Reds remain somewhat in contention.

        If the Reds slide further out, there's a chance Larkin will decide to get the surgery to repair the hernia and shut it down for the season.

        “That's a possibility,” Larkin said.

        But it's not certain Larkin will need the surgery.

        HARNISCH THROWS: Pete Harnisch threw a long-toss session before Saturday's game.

        “It was pain-free,” Reds manager Bob Boone said. “He looked good, really good. It was very encouraging.”

        Harnisch, who has been on the disabled list since May 11 with tendinitis in his right elbow, will do another long-toss session Monday.

        MORE HARNISCH: Harnisch's older brother, Jim, was at Cinergy Saturday. He shagged flies before the game and strained a hamstring.

        “That's a big-time fine,” Ken Griffey Jr. said. “Taking up valuable time from the players in the training room.”

        OCHOA OFF: Alex Ochoa was out of the starting lineup Saturday. Michael Tucker led off and played right field.

        “I want to get Tucker some at-bats,” Boone said, “and give Ochoa some rest. He's been going every day for a long time.”

        Ochoa went 0-for-4 Friday. Before that, he had hit .425 with three home runs and five RBI in his previous 10 games.

        SCOUTING: Reds scout Gene Bennett attended Colorado's 5-3 defeat Friday night at Arizona, in which Rockies starter Pedro Astacio took the loss while allowing three runs and seven hits in 6 1/3 innings. Astacio (5-9, 5.62 ERA) has been included in Colorado-Cincinnati trade discussions involving Dmitri Young. But the Reds have balked at Astacio's $6.85 million salary, which includes a $9 million option for next year with a $1 million buyout.

        UP NEXT: Right-hander Chris Reitsma (4-6, 4.27 ERA) faces Cub ace right-hander Jon Lieber (9-4, 3.22) today in the series finale at 1:15 p.m.

        Lieber shut out the Reds 3-0 May 24 to end their streak of 208 games without being shut out.

SULLIVAN: Lindner-Larkin deal all-time Reds blunder DAUGHERTY: Reds are paying for sideshows, not good players Reds 7, Cubs 1 Reds trade Wohlers to Yankees Reds see Rijo in Aramboles Nuxhall knows controversy No excuses for Larkin Fan's-eye view of the Reds Gookie still part of Reds' future Reds minor-league report Reds box, runs

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