CHICAGO — The Reds, who started the season on a world-record error pace, had been better before committing three errors Sunday.

        They went into Sunday with the fifth most errors in the National League. They had the second most for the first week of the season.

        “Our defense has been all right,” manager Bob Boone said. “Sean Casey is playing a Gold Glove first base. Todd Walker has been better at second base. He's 1,000 times better turning the double play. (Barry) Larkin, when he's healthy, is very good. Aaron (Boone) has made spectacular plays at third. He messed up a few easy ones. The outfield defense is solid. Errors don't concern me too much. They're going to happen.”

        Walker is the only regular infielder without an error.

        GUERRERO OK: Wilton Guerrero collided with Adam Dunn on a pop-up in short left field. Guerrero left the game but was fine. He only had the wind knocked out of him.

        Bob Boone had planned to start Gookie Dawkins at shortstop Sunday. But his coaches talked him into playing Guerrero instead.

        Guerrero is one of the Reds' hottest hitters. He went 1-for-3 with two walks in Saturday's victory. He is 4-for-9 as a pinch-hitter and entered Sunday hitting .350 overall.

        JUAN IS FIRST: Boone had Juan Encarnacion in the leadoff spot for the first time this year.

        “He's certainly a down-in-the-order guy,” Boone said. “But with Larkin not out there, I like his speed up at the top. I like Wilton hitting behind him. This is the Sunday Special.”

        TOUGH TASK: Boone has no scientific evidence, but he thinks the Reds have faced more than their share of tough pitchers this year.

        The Reds have had Chicago's Jon Lieber and Kerry Wood (twice), Houston's Roy Oswalt, Philadelphia's Robert Person and Montreal's Javier Vazquez.

        They beat Lieber, Wood (one of two) and Person. They beat the Astros when Oswalt got a no decision.

        NO MEN OF STEAL: Dunn stole a base Sunday, breaking a streak of the Reds being caught six-straight times. The Reds started the season by stealing 12 in 14 attempts.

        UP NEXT: The Reds are off today. They start a three-game series with Colorado Tuesday at 7:10 p.m.

Rijo's back after 5-3 win over Cubs Larkin sits while hitting woes continue Reds Notebook: Defense comes and goes Reds box, runs

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