SARASOTA, Fla. — Elmer Dessens was the one pitcher the Reds guaranteed a spot in the starting rotation from the start of spring training. He's fortunate that's the case. Were he competing for a spot, he'd be sixth in a six-man race.

        Dessens made his fourth start of the spring Sunday in the Reds' 7-6 loss to the Kansas City Royals and struggled.

        Dessens went four innings, allowing four runs and seven hits. He walked none and struck out four. The outing left his ERA at 9.00. He's allowed 20 hits in 11 innings.

        “I felt good,” he said. “But my ball wasn't moving.”

        “He felt strong,” Reds manager Bob Boone said. “It straightened out his pitches. He didn't have the movement he usually has.”

        Dessens was lucky to survive the first inning. He gave up a single and double to start the inning. The Royals followed with two rockets to the warning track — both of which center fielder Juan Encarnacion caught. Dessens got a strikeout to end the inning. But the Reds were in a 2-0 hole.

        “I was trying to be too perfect,” Dessens said. “Then I said, "Just pitch. Relax.'”

        Dessens allowed two more runs in the third. Both were earned, but Dessens might have pitched out of the innings if not for two throwing errors on catcher Jason LaRue.

        Dessens said he feels fine.

        “I've got two more starts,” he said. “I'll do my plan and get ready for the season.”

        Boone has never said Dessens, a 30-year-old right-hander, will be the Opening Day starter. Who will start should become clear next week. Boone said he'll set the rotation then.

        “I've got it set in my mind now,” he said. “But I'm not ready to announce it.”

        It'll probably be Dessens, Joey Hamilton, Chris Reitsma, Jose Acevedo and Jimmy Haynes.

        Jose Rijo is scheduled to pitch in relief Tuesday against the New York Yankees, so it's unlikely he's a starter in Boone's mind.

Dessens struggles early Bowden favors Graves as closer Tough roster decisions ahead Royals 7, Reds 6

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