SAN DIEGO — Remember Scott Winchester? Reds management does.

        Manager Bob Boone said the right-hander has “certainly worked himself back into the picture” by throwing 21 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings for Triple-A Louisville. Winchester extended that streak by pitching six innings Friday in a 3-2 victory over Norfolk.

        “It's just a matter of when and how,” Boone said of Winchester's return to Cincinnati. “What he's doing is very good for him. Two weeks ago his name wasn't cropping up in conversations.”

        One complication: Boone said the Reds likely would recall Winchester as a starter, the role he has excelled in at Louisville. But none of Cincinnati's current starters has pitched poorly enough to be removed from the rotation, at least recently. Boone suggested that a spot could be created by moving Jim Brower back into long relief.

        Added Boone, referring to the Reds' recent seven-game winning streak, “The other part of that is, I don't know if you really want to do a lot of things while we're rolling.”

        Winchester, 4-2 with a 2.90 ERA overall at Louisville, was optioned to the minors on June 13 after posting an 0-1 record with a 3.79 ERA in 11 Reds appearances as a reliever.

        Pitching coach Don Gullett hasn't seen Winchester throw recently, but theorized the 28-year-old, who has been inconsistent since undergoing extensive shoulder surgery in August 1998, may finally have hit his stride.

        “He had a pretty big rehabilitation,” Gullett said. “It varies from individual to individual how long it takes.”

        RIEDLING PROGRESSES: Thought to be bound for shoulder surgery a month ago, reliever John Riedling instead seems headed for an injury rehabilitation stint in the minor leagues next week.

        Riedling threw hard and successfully in his 35-pitch simulated game Saturday, which he will repeat Tuesday at Cinergy Field. Should he emerge healthy from that outing, he'll likely begin a rehab assignment.

        Riedling, who faced teammates Brady Clark and Wilton Guerrero, remained cautiously optimistic.

        “I'm not 100 percent yet,” said Riedling, who has been on the disabled list since May 27. “It definitely feels pretty good, but it's kind of like spring training, when your arm's tired. I don't feel like I have my arm strength right now.”

        But Gullett has noticed progress:“He seems to be getting better each time.”

        REMEMBERING A STAR: Brower has enduring memories of Dave Winfield, who's being inducted into the Hall of Fame today. Brower, who like Winfield attended the University of Minnesota, was a freshman in 1992 when the star outfielder returned for an alumni baseball game.

        “When I met him, I didn't know how big he was,” said Brower, who's 6-foot-2. “But I was looking at his waist. He's probably 6-foot-6, but he was all legs.”

        Though Winfield preceded Brower at UM by about 20 years, time didn't diminish the former's reputation. “That guy was a legend,” Brower said.

        Here's a nice touch: Before today's Cincinnati-San Diego game, early-arriving fans will have the opportunity to gorge themselves on doughnuts and coffee while watching the induction ceremony of Winfield, a former Padre.

        EXTRA WORK: Right fielder Adam Dunn, who began Saturday 2-for-25 in his last six games after beginning his major-league career with a seven-game hitting streak, was among several early arrivals taking extra batting practice at Qualcomm Stadium.

        Boone believes that Dunn has been starting his swing a little too late.

        “The result is that his front side goes up, his bat dips and you add length to the swing,” Boone said.

        “The $64,000 question is, you've identified what's wrong; now, what are the words you use to get it right? Until you really know him and have a relationship with him, it's pretty easy to confuse him. I get a little nervous when you start talking about too many things.”

        UP NEXT: Jose Acevedo (2-3) will face fellow rookie right-hander Brian Lawrence of San Diego (2-1) in today's series finale.

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