SARASOTA, Fla. — Scott Williamson's line in the box score didn't look too good — one inning, two hits, two runs, no walks, two strikeouts — but Williamson was happy.

        “It was a good first time out,” he said. “I threw without pain. We're not worried about results right now.”

        The outing in the Reds' 2-1 loss to the New York Yankees was the first for Williamson since April12 Tommy John surgery on his right elbow.

        His velocity was very near where it was pre-surgery. He hit 95 mph on the radar gun and was consistently at 93, 94.

        He gave up back-to-back home runs to Ron Coomer and Nick Johnson. The pitch to Coomer was the first slider Williamson threw.

        “I was more nervous than anything,” he said.

        He fell behind Johnson 3-0 and then grooved a fastball.

        “I didn't want to walk him,” Williamson said. “That was a BP fastball.”

        Williamson will go on the regular reliever program, throwing one inning every other game.

        “The last week I'll start pitching like the regular season,” he said. "Thursday, it was almost all fastballs.”

        Williamson still hasn't thrown his out pitch — the split finger.

        “I felt a little naked out there without it,” he said. “I had the grip a couple of times. But I said, "No, not yet.'”

        DAVIS UPBEAT: Reds pitcher Lance Davis was relieved. Though it's no picnic being out for four to six weeks, it beats the alternative.

        “Anything to avoid the knife,” he said. “This is good news, real good news.”

        Davis, a 25-year-old left-hander, also was relieved to know that there was a medical explanation for his ineffectiveness this spring. Davis was pounded in three outings and was 0-2 with a 32.40 ERA when the Reds sent him to Cincinnati for an MRI.

        The MRI revealed inflammation in the back of Davis' shoulder. “I figured something was wrong,” he said. “I obviously wasn't pitching like I can.”

        GRAVES THE CLOSER: Reds manager Bob Boone said there's no chance Danny Graves will go into the rotation given Davis' injury. Graves has been preparing as a starter, but he's still scheduled to be the Reds' closer.

        “We don't have anyone on the back end that I'm confident enough in,” Boone said. “If we had someone with 42 saves waiting back there, it would be different.”

        There was talk of the Reds moving Graves to the rotation when they were in the running to sign Jeff Shaw.

        But when that didn't happen, the Reds had little alternative but to use Graves as the closer, particularly because John Riedling, the most likely candidate to be the closer of the future, is still rehabbing from shoulder surgery.

        The Reds have some alternatives — Gabe White, Scott Sullivan, Luis Pineda — but it's too late to try one of them.

        “You've got to know,” Boone said. “I'm not into experimenting going into the season.”

        MATEO OUT: Ruben Mateo was a late scratch from Thursday's lineup with a sore shoulder. Brady Clark started instead.

        DUNN OFF: Adam Dunn was given Thursday's game off as part of Boone's effort to give all his regulars a day off. Actually, it isn't a day off.

        “They come in here and get a ton of hitting in,” Boone said.

        NO CONFRONTATION: Today is the day Barry Larkin and Ken Griffey Jr. aren't playing a game. That means they won't play against the Detroit Tigers in Lakeland. That means they won't be playing against former teammate Dmitri Young. That means they won't see Young at all this spring.

        Today's game is the last of three between the two clubs this spring. Young did not make the two trips to Sarasota.

        Larkin and Griffey are scheduled to play Saturday against Pittsburgh in Bradenton. That should give Larkin and Griffey a chance to see Pokey Reese.

        Reese was the one who started the “he said-he said” Reds debate this spring by ripping Griffey about special treatment. Young echoed Reese's comments on Griffey and lumped in Larkin with him.

        GETTING REAL: Bob Boone plans to give Aaron Boone and Todd Walker Sunday's game off. The Reds have their only off day of the spring Monday. Beginning Tuesday, Boone will begin playing the starting eight into the late innings every day.

        “We'll start playing it straight,” he said. “We'll use relievers in situations.”

        LaRUE LEADS OFF: Catcher Jason LaRue was in the leadoff spot for Thursday's game with the Yankees. Boone isn't trying to make LaRue into the next Jason Kendall. He was just trying to get more at-bats for his catchers.

        “The eight hole doesn't come around very often when you get three hits (like we did Wednesday),” Boone said. LaRue runs well for a catcher.

Larkin leaves game against Yankees Reds have big plans for final games Reds notebook Yankees 2, Reds 1 Baseball notebook

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