SARASOTA, Fla. — Jimmy Haynes appears to be losing ground to Joey Hamilton and Jose Rijo in the contest for the fifth spot in Cincinnati's starting rotation.

        Haynes allowed three runs on five hits with a walk and a strikeout in the 4-2 loss to Detroit on Friday. He hit Jacob Cruz with a pitch and allowed a long home run to center field by Shane Halter.

        Haynes has allowed 10 runs, eight of them earned, in his last 11 innings, and has an ERA of 6.00 in 12 innings this spring.

        Hamilton has an ERA of 0.69, and Rijo threw three perfect innings on Tuesday. Despite a 0.00 ERA this spring, Rijo has given up five runs in two stints. One was a B game and the other appearance was wiped out by rain.

        Opponents are hitting .360 against Haynes.

        “He wasn't real sharp,” said Reds manager Bob Boone. “He needs to tighten up his breaking ball.”

        ———
       Casey improves hitting

        Sean Casey is still looking for his first home run of the spring, but he is starting to hit with authority. Casey was 1-3 against Detroit on Friday night. He's averaging .219 with four RBIs and one double.

        “He's not there, yet,” Boone said. “Tonight, he was better at getting into position.”

Haynes going about business 'Rotation Wars' continue Tigers 4, Reds 2 Reds notebook Baseball notebook

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