Austin Kearns made his third straight start in right field for the Reds. He seems to have passed Ruben Mateo on the depth chart.

        “He's in there because he's supposed to be in there,” manager Bob Boone said. “He gives us real professional at-bats every time up.”

        Kearns homered and doubled Sunday and doubled Tuesday. He also walked each game. He's hitting .286 after his 1-for-4 night Wednesday. Kearns and Mateo both will play today, Boone said, because Adam Dunn will have the game off.

        UNCORKED: Corky Miller started at catcher Wednesday night. That was partly because Jason LaRue has a sore quadriceps muscle and partly because Boone wants to give Miller a chance.

        Miller entered Wednesday with two hits in six at-bats and went 1-for-3 . That's not much to judge him on. But Boone says Miller, who hit .184 in 17 games last year, is better.

        “He's a much better hitter now than a year ago,” Boone said.

        BOHANON TO TRIPLE-A: Left-hander Brian Bohanon will be activated and start for Triple-A Louisville Monday at Scranton.

        Bohanon, who had surgery March 11 to remove a bone spur and repair a stress fracture in his left elbow, threw 75 pitches against live hitters Wednesday.

        “He looked real good,” Boone said.

        Bohanon pitched for the Colorado Rockies last year. He won 12 games in 1999 and 2000. Because Bohanon, 33, signed a minor-league contract, this is not a rehab assignment. He can pitch for Louisville indefinitely.

        “He's an interesting guy,” Boone said.

        INJURY UPDATE: Catcher Kelly Stinnett and utility man Juan Castro are still a ways from returning from the disabled list. Castro, out since March 29 with a left hamstring strain, ran Tuesday for the first time since his injury.

        “It was nice and easy,” he said. “I'm getting closer.”

        Castro expects to go on a rehab assignment before he's activated.

        Stinnett, out since April11 with a sore right elbow, hasn't begun throwing yet.

        “I hope to throw this weekend,” he said. “It's not going as quickly as I thought. It's been a little bit of a struggle.”

        UP NEXT: The Reds conclude the three-game series with the Rockies tonight (7:10 p.m., Fox Sports Net). Right-hander Joey Hamilton (1-1, 3.38) faces former Reds left-hander Denny Neagle (2-1, 5.96).

Reds 4, Rockies 3 Reds box, runs Barely hundred fans at finish Small crowds could mean big trouble for Reds Baseball owners push deal to avert strike Reds broke even last year, baseball says SULLIVAN: Baseball's future lies in balance Owners pitch luxury tax 'Middle-class' players could prove to be key Reds fined for tampering with Griffey No date set on Griffey's return Reds Notebook: Kearns earns playing time Yankees 8, Athletics 5 Angels 10, Mariners 6 Cubs 10, Giants 4 Expos 5, Brewers 4, 15 innings

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