Aaron Boone at short (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        CHICAGO — Barry Larkin was OK to play Thursday, but Reds manager Bob Boone wanted to experiment a little. So he started his son, Aaron, at shortstop for the first time all year. Russell Branyan played third base.

        “It's a little test run,” Bob Boone said. “Aaron's played there some. He's been practicing a little bit.”

        That said, Bob Boone was a little nervous going into the game. “I'll go down in the tunnel when we're on defense,” he said.

        Aaron figured it would be OK to watch.

        “Physically, I know I can play the position,” Aaron said. “It's a matter of the little quirks that go with playing it.”

        Boone has played in nine games at shortstop, including an inning at Philadelphia this year. He played quite a bit there at spring training in 2000.

        “In the minor leagues, I played 10 or 15 games a year there,” Boone said. “I'm looking forward to it.”

        He did fine, handling four chances without a problem.

        “That's big for us,” Bob Boone said. “If Aaron can play there, it opens some options for us.”

        Boone has said Aaron would be used at short ever since the Reds traded for Branyan. Thursday was a good opportunity for three reasons:

        • Larkin had to leave Wednesday's game with a muscle spasm in his right trapezius. Having Thursday off let him rest an extra day.

        • The Reds were facing Chicago right-hander Jon Lieber. Right-handed hitters were hitting .225 with two homers against him; left-handers .301 with seven. Branyan adds a left-handed power bat.

        • Larkin is struggling. He pinch hit Thursday and struck out to extend his skid to 0-for-19.

        Larkin made it known he could play.

        “I told (Bob) I was fine,” Larkin said. “He had an idea he wanted to go with.”

        LEARNING EXPERIENCE: Starter Joey Hamilton had one bad inning in the Reds' 5-4 victory Thursday. He walked four and gave up two runs in the third.

        Other than that, he was excellent. He pitched seven innings, allowing only two hits. He walked six and struck out five.

        “He hit a little bump there,” Boone said. “I hope he learned something about himself.”

        Hamilton thinks he did. He retired the last 12 hitters he faced.

        “I was able to settle down,” he said. “I softened up a little on my breaking ball. My changeup has been MIA lately. I needed something else a little softer.”

        Hamilton hadn't pitched in eight days before Thursday. He was pushed back because he had to go home last weekend to attend the funeral of his wife's grandfather.

        “I think that was part of it (in the third),” he said. “Then I started rushing. I got the adrenalin going. I have problems with that anyway, much less pitching for the first time in eight days.”

        THEFT PROOF: Going into Thursday's game, the Reds had allowed the fewest stolen bases in the major leagues.

        The Reds had given up a total of 29 stolen bases. Seattle and Anaheim were tied for the second-fewest at 33.

        The Reds were also among the best at throwing out would-be stealers. They had caught 21 in 50 tries (42 percent). Only Atlanta (46.6 percent) and Anaheim (43.1 percent were better.

        FLIP GESTURE: What Todd Hundley did with his hand after hitting a home run Wednesday against the Reds was a big topic of conversation in the Reds clubhouse before Thursday's game.

        Replays showed Hundley making what looked like an obscene gesture toward the Reds dugout as he ran to first after the home run. No one on the Reds bench noticed until ESPN replayed it on SportsCenter.

        The Reds figured it was aimed at the Cubs fans.

        “They've been booing him all year,” Todd Walker said.

        Hundley had no comment.

        FARM REPORT: Left-hander Ty Howington made his third start since coming off the disabled list with shoulder tendinitis. Howington, the Reds' top pick in 1999, took the loss as Double-A Chattanooga fell to West Tennessee 3-1. Howington went 4 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits. He walked four and struck out five.

Reds 5, Cubs 4 Reds box, runs Cardinals trying to maintain focus amid tragedy, grief Boone passes test at shortstop Reds-Cards series preview Corey smoked pot before seizure Owners make new draft proposal Surprising Expos deal for Colon NL roundup AL roundup Notes from Thursday's games Richmond 7, Louisville 1

Logan could help Warriors
Finally, Rockets land their 7-foot-5 prize
Jazz center Ostertag donates kidney to sister
Big Phil: There's a rope around our necks
Blatter doesn't want 'scientific' officiating
Two inexorable forces reach the final
J-Mo claims another top-10 upset
Where does Sampras go from here?
Experts to review Title IX
Jay Berwanger, first Heisman Trophy winner, dies at 88
Mumme faces opposition at Southeastern
NCAA panel recommends summer weight training restriction
Dottie Pepper returns to LPGA after shoulder surgery
Names in the Game
Tonya Harding's lawyer denies she drank, despite DUI
Coming up this week
Met results
Metcalfe advances in one for the ages
Boys Track All Star Team
Girls Track All Stars

• Return to Reds front page...