The Reds rank third in the National League for club home runs. They don't figure to make any headway today on the second-place HR team - San Francisco - because left-hander Randy Johnson is pitching for the Diamondbacks.

        Even if the Reds were to get fortunate and pop one out today, it probably won't be off the bat of Adam Dunn, who will likely be the left-handed hitter that gets a rest to make room for right-handed hitting Brandon Larson. When Reds manager Bob Boone first mentioned on Wednesday that Larson would start today, a reporter asked him which left-handed hitter would get the day off - Dunn or Sean Casey?

        “Yes,” said Boone, eliciting some laughs.

        But, then, Boone said that Dunn would likely be the one to get the day off, because he's been “scuffling” lately. The last home run Dunn hit was in Colorado.

        It was a legitimate one - as have all the ones hit in Coors Field since the baseballs used there began to be stored in pre-game humidors to keep the balls flying ordinary distances, instead of the high-altitude rocket rides they'd been getting in the past. Not only do the humidors have the effect of keeping the ball in the ballpark, they also have made it possible for pitchers to get some break on their breaking balls, something which had been much harder to do in the pre-humidor era.

        Dunn, who had never before played a series in Colorado before the Reds got swept there in three games early last week, can't speak about the past. But, as for the present, he says it is a “bunch of garbage” if anybody says the ball doesn't break in Denver.

        “(Jason) Jennings threw me an absolute hammer for a strike,” Dunn said.

        Ken Griffey Jr., a former teammate of Johnson's, gave Larson a primer on Johnson. The first time Griffey faced Johnson, Johnson drilled him.

        “His stuff will range from 85 to 99, occasionally 100,” Griffey told Larson. “And if you take a big hack, he's going to break his slider off on your back foot. He'll throw you a lot of pitches up here (Griffey held his hand chest-level), but you want the pitches down and away. Don't dive, though. Cuz he's got a control problem. He's been known to hit a few people. But don't worry about it.”

        “Thanks - I think,” Larson said.

        “Sleep well,” somebody told him.

D'Backs 7, Reds 2 Reds Box, Runs Baseball unions in Boones' blood Robertson, an NBA union pioneer, says league made him pay Baseball labor talks stall Larson gets first look at Unit Rijo happy for big start Reds Notebook: Sullivan ready again Arizona hits new heights at Reds' expense Cardinals 7, Pirates 3 Astros 4, Cubs 3 Red Sox 12, Mariners 5 Angels 5, Tigers 4 Orioles 6, Twins 5 Yankees 3, Royals 2 Louisville 4, Toledo 3

Burris just what Bengals needed
Bengals Notebook: Armour's contract extended
Oregon fills UC's nonconference schedule
UC pins hopes on Guidugli
PGA champ still hears 'Who?'
PGA Championship Notebook
PGA Championship Tee Times
Another Little League scandal?
Notre Dame coach confident, calm
Priestley has surgery for racing injuries
High School Results

• Return to Reds front page...