You couldn't call it a benching, but Reds shortstop Barry Larkin probably could have played any of the four games he missed with a sore trapezius muscle.

        The fact that Larkin didn't play had as much to do with his struggles at the plate as it did with the injury.

        “I'm a realist,” Larkin said. “You have to play your best players. I haven't been one of the best players this year.”

        With Russell Branyan on the team, the Reds can move Aaron Boone to shortstop and play Branyan at third and not lose a great deal offensively.

        So Larkin didn't lobby to play when Reds manager Bob Boone made out the lineup card without Larkin on it.

        The sore shoulder was a factor.

        “I wasn't 100 percent physically,” Larkin said. “If I were, I would have wanted to play. But Russ brings a lot of punch to the lineup. Aaron has been one of our most consistent players lately.”

        Larkin returned to the lineup Monday and doubled his first time up, breaking an 0-for-20 skid.

        Bob Boone said Larkin understood why he wasn't playing.

        “Now that we have Branyan, it's easier for him to accept,” Boone said. “Barry's the ultimate team guy. He's a Red to the core.”

        Boone thinks resting Larkin on a consistent basis will help his performance.

        “You see what he does when he gets a little time to rest,” Boone said. “This is a tough time of the year.”

        Again, Larkin is being realistic. He entered the night hitting .227 — 70 points below his career average.

        “I needed a mental break as much as physical,” he said.

        Despite Larkin's batting average, the Reds are 38-30 with him in the starting lineup.

Reds 7, Astros 5 Reds box, runs DAUGHERTY: Bob Boone Boone still mulling No. 5 starter Change of scenery did Branyan good Larkin defers to hotter players Walker, Ordonez deserve selection Pedro declines All-Star invitation to rest arm Wild Thing replaces Helms as manager in minors Yankees pick up Mondesi from Toronto NL roundup AL roundup Notes from Monday's games

Dorsch, dad team up vs. Bengals
Dickey memorial service changed to Saturday
Shoemaker Center to host NCAA women's first round
After a month of surprises, Brazil is back on top
German keeper Kahn wins Golden Ball
Henman makes it look difficult at Wimbledon
Serena creates a racket at Wimbledon
Churchill Downs changes post time for Friday
Rare white colt attracts unusual attention
$200,000 on the line when Shootout resumes Tuesday
Bird: I'd come to Charlotte to build a winner
Rangers sign Holik
Coming up this week

• Return to Reds front page...