Reds manager Bob Boone doesn't plan to use Scott Sullivan every day. But that's how it's working out.

Aaron Boone bobbles a grounder for his third error in six games. (Michael E. Keating photo) | ZOOM |

        In Sunday's 6-5 victory over the Montreal Expos, Boone tried to get Scott Williamson to bridge the gap from starter Joey Hamilton to closer Danny Graves.

        Williamson, who is coming back from Tommy John surgery on his pitching elbow, couldn't do it. He faced three batters, giving up a double, a single and a walk.

        All three of those runners scored after Graves entered the game to bail Williamson out. Graves gave up another run on his own.

        So the Reds went from leading 4-1 to losing 5-4. They came back to win. That took the sting out of the blown save, but the problem remains.

        “Somebody has to take the heat off of Sullivan,” Boone said.

        Sullivan, who has led the major leagues in relief innings each of the last four years, has pitched in five of the six games this year. He's thrown 5 1/3 innings, a 143-inning pace.

        Sullivan is a workhorse, but the most innings he's thrown in a season was 113 2/3 in 1999.

        Williamson's failure came one day after Luis Pineda failed to retire a batter after taking over for starter Chris Reitsma in the sixth. Boone will continue to give both Pineda and Williamson chances. He'll also look at using Gabe White and Jose Rijo to set up Sullivan and Graves.

        “We almost have to treat Scott (Williamson) like a kid,” Boone said. “He gets that adrenaline going. His slider flattens out. He's throwing hard. But sometimes it's not, hard, hard, harder.”

        ARMS RACES: The seven-day, six-game road trip the Reds begin today in Pittsburgh is a big one for some members of the pitching staff.

        That's because when the Reds return home, Lance Davis and Jose Silva will throw for manager Bob Boone, pitching coach Don Gullett and general manager Jim Bowden. Davis, Silva and John Riedling all started the season on the 15-day disabled list. When they're ready to come off, the Reds have some decisions to make.

        Pitchers who don't pitch well on the trip could find themselves on the bubble.

        “There's always competition, whether it be the pitchers on the DL or pitchers in the minor leagues,” Bowden said. “They're professional players. They know what it's about. We're trying to win as many games as we can.”

        Silva, Davis and Riedling are all likely to be ready around the end of April. “We'll have a better idea after they throw on the 16th,” Bowden said.

        The first time through the rotation Jose Acevedo and Chris Reitsma were the Reds' two best starters. The Reds have some prospects in the minors, but Bowden said it's too early to consider a youth movement.

        “At the major-league level, you don't evaluate pitchers on one, two or even three starts,” he said. “But, obviously, we'll watch development of our young pitchers very closely.”

        UNCONCERNED: Bowden says he's not concerned about Adam Dunn's slow start, which comes on the heels of Dunn's rough spring training.

        “I promise you, every player in our starting eight will struggle for five games or six games or seven games,” Bowden said, “every single one of them.”

        Dunn was 0-for-3 with a walk Sunday. He struck out twice. Dunn is 2-for-17 overall with seven strikeouts. He is among the league leaders with six walks.

        TIPPING BALANCE: By going seven innings Sunday, Joey Hamilton gave the starting pitchers more innings than the relievers. Going into Sunday, the relievers had pitched 23 innings and the starters 22.

        STEADY LINEUP: Reds manager Bob Boone used the projected Opening Day lineup for the fifth time this season Sunday. That's one more time than he used last year's projected Opening Day lineup the whole season.

        Boone has gone with 2B Todd Walker, SS Barry Larkin, CF Ken Griffey Jr., 1B Sean Casey, 3B Aaron Boone, LF Adam Dunn, RF Juan Encarnacion and C Jason LaRue five times. The only time he didn't was Friday, when he had Kelly Stinnett replace LaRue.

        GOING TO THE CHAPEL: The Reds had their weekly chapel service before Sunday's game in the usual place — the weight room.

        That won't be necessary next season. Great American Ball Park will be the first major league park with a chapel.

        “It will be nice,” said Scott Sullivan, who organizes Reds' chapel services.

        DOWN ON THE FARM: Wily Mo Pena went 3-for-5 with three RBI in Double-A Chattanooga's 8-5 victory over Greenville Saturday. Pena is hitting .500 with five RBI so far. Austin Kearns, also at Chattanooga, is off to a 1-for-10 start.

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