Adam Dunn takes batting practice under the eye of hitting coach Jim Lefebvre. (Steven M. Herppich photo) | ZOOM |

        CLEARWATER, Fla. — Adam Dunn figured it's time to get going. “I've got to start picking it up here,” he said. “I haven't been going too good.” Dunn's little self-pep talk helped. He had two hits, including his first home run of the spring, in the Reds' 10-10 tie with the Philadelphia Phillies Tuesday.

        Dunn came into the game with three hits in 21 at-bats. He really hadn't hit a ball hard all spring.

        Dunn had been working on things such as hitting the ball on the ground. He threw all that out Tuesday. “I'm just going to try to hit it hard,” he said.

        He did. He also hit the ball where it was pitched. Both hits were to left field. Because of what he did last year, Dunn has been allowed the luxury of heating up on his own timetable. Austin Kearns, the player taken ahead of Dunn in 1998 draft, was sent to the minors Monday.

        Dunn knows if his roster spot were based on spring performance, he might be with Kearns. “Yeah, I'd probably be out of here,” he said.

        But Dunn hit 51 home runs and drove in 126 last season on his trip up from Double-A. He hit .262 with 19 home runs and 43 RBI in 66 games with the Reds.

        “Spring training is all about what you've done,” manager Bob Boone said. “It's not what you do in spring training. A year from now, Austin Kearns might be in the same situation. That's the advantage of being a projected starter.”

        Even with a job guaranteed, Dunn doesn't want to come out of the spring not hitting.

        “The season is still three weeks away,” Dunn said. “We've still got a lot of time. But you still have that sense of urgency. When you see the roster thin out, it's time to go.”

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