Ken Griffey Jr. didn't have to pack for his first road trip of the season. His luggage has been ready for seven weeks.

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Ken Griffey Jr. watches Wednesday night's game between Adam Dunn and Austin Kearns. He could be playing between them tonight. (Craig Ruttle photo) 600 | 800 | 1024

        Griffey headed for Atlanta with the rest of the Reds on Thursday, eager to get back into the lineup for the first time since April 7. He's been on the disabled list since he tore the patella tendon in his right knee during a rundown.

        The Reds left for Pittsburgh after that game, starting their first trip of the season. Griffey stayed behind and started therapy.

        “I kept the suitcase and the trunk packed,” he said Thursday. “They were ready to go to Pittsburgh.”

        The Reds expect to activate Griffey off the disabled list Friday and put him in the lineup against the Braves. They cleared a roster spot by optioning shortstop Gookie Dawkins to Double-A Chattanooga following an 8-4 loss to Florida on Thursday afternoon.

        The outfield has done very well without Griffey, but is eager to have him back.

        “Pitchers are scared to death of the guy, and they should be,” left fielder Adam Dunn said. “When you're hitting behind him, you get a lot more opportunities. When you're hitting ahead of him, you get a lot more opportunities.

        “It's just a lot of little things. When they see Griffey in the No. 3 hole, it changes everything.”

        After Griffey got hurt, the Reds lost their first game in Pittsburgh, then started a surge that has carried them into first place in the NL Central. They opened a five-game lead on May 18 — their biggest lead since 1995 — but have watched the St. Louis Cardinals get their pitchers healthy and make a run of their own.

        The Cardinals beat the Houston Astros 5-4 on Thursday, cutting Cincinnati's lead to two games.

        Griffey's return will force manager Bob Boone to fit five players into four positions — the three outfield spots and first base. First baseman Sean Casey is hitting .292, and Dunn, Austin Kearns and Juan Encarnacion have carried the offense.

        Since Kearns was promoted from the minors on April 17, the three outfielders collectively have hit .297 with 19 homers and 64 RBIs in 34 games.

        Boone plans to go easy with Griffey, resting him when the field is wet. Whoever is out of the lineup will likely get into the game as a pinch-hitter or part of a double switch.

        Boone isn't concerned about changing a winning combination to make room for Griffey.

        “I love having him in the lineup,” Boone said. “He's going to go down as one of the all-time players. That's a lot of history. I covet the fact that he's on the club and I covet the fact that I get a chance to manage him. I'm looking forward to him coming back.”

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