MINNEAPOLIS — Hoping to find more playing time for Ruben Rivera, manager Bob Boone gave him his second start of the year in left field Sunday. Rivera also has started 35 games in center.

        Boone was still raving over Rivera's two-run homer in Saturday night's eighth inning that tied the score, 6-6.

        “If he just touches the ball, it's incredible. He has incredible power,” Boone said of Rivera, who has seven homers in 173 at-bats. “He still strikes out too much, but he has had some good at-bats where he lays off a breaking ball they're trying to get him to chase.”

        BACK TO WORK: Reds position players are expected to attend a mandatory workout Wednesday at Cinergy Field. Pitchers don't have to attend, though a few who have to do some between-starts throwing will show up.

        The workout will begin at 7 p.m., giving players time to return from their respective All-Star break hideaways. The Reds resume the season Thursday with an interleague series against Cleveland.

        “It'll be a short thing,” Boone said of the workout. “We're not going to do much. I just like guys to be back that night rather than cut it close the next day.”

        Boone admitted that he felt “torn” between giving players the entire three days off and getting their minds back on work in a timely fashion.

        “We really didn't need (the workout),” Boone said. “But when I was a player, three days off was too much.”

        ETC.: After 87 games, the Reds remain the National League's only team without a complete game. They went 89 games without one last year, a franchise record.

        • Alex Ochoa is hitless in his last 25 at-bats and 1-for-30 since tying his career high with five hits June 28 vs. Chicago.

        • Reds starter Elmer Dessens pitched five innings Sunday, ending an eight-game streak in which he'd worked at least six innings.

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