PHOENIX - Outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. wasn't in the Reds' lineup Tuesday night after hitting a pinch-hit, three-run home run Monday. It was the fourth straight start Griffey has missed and the 86th this year.

Ken Griffey Jr., pinch-hitting Tuesday, hits a sacrifice fly. (AP photos) | ZOOM |

        The fact left-hander Randy Johnson was starting for the Arizona Diamondbacks had something to do with Griffey not starting.

        “Sure,” Reds manager Bob Boone. “I don't want to throw him in there against Randy.”

        But caution also played a role. Griffey still has soreness from his strained left hip flexor.

        “I hope it's (getting Griffey in the lineup) sooner rather than later,” Boone said. “But he doesn't have his legs under him. It doesn't help us if he goes out and hurts it again.”

        Griffey pinch-hit in the eighth and hit a sacrifice fly.

        DUNN AT WORK: Adam Dunn came out for early batting practice, trying to find his stroke. Dunn entered Tuesday's game 0-for-his-last-13 and 2-for-his-last-22.

        So how was the early BP? “Good,” he said. “I think I got three hits. If (coach Tim) Foli pitches tonight, I'll go 1-for-3 with a walk.”

        Dunn, of course, faced Johnson, not Foli, and struck out five times.

        Dunn has been struggling against any pitcher lately.

        “All those bad habits I've worked on over the last four years are back,” he said. “It's really been since the All-Star break. But it's got to come back eventually.”

        TRANSACTIONS: The Reds sent outfielder Raul Gonzalez to the New York Mets as one of the players-to-be-named-later in the Shawn Estes trade. The Reds still owe the Mets another player.

        Gonzalez, 28, was hitting .333 with 13 homers and 69 RBI with Louisville. He hit .261 in 10 games (five starts) with the Reds this year.

        The Reds also signed outfielder Jose Guillen to a minor-league contract and assigned him to Louisville. Guillen, 26, hit .226 with four homers and 15 RBI for Arizona this year. He was designated for assignment July 15 and claimed by Colorado.Guillen played four games at Triple-A Colorado Springs before asking for his release.

        Guillen's best year was with Pittsburgh in 1998, when he hit .267 with 14 homers and 84 RBI in 1998.

        FARM REPORT: The promotion of Chris Reitsma, Monday's scheduled starter, and reliever Hudson left Louisville in a tough spot when the Bats went 17 innings against Columbus Monday night.

        Three position players - Robin Jennings, Mike Stefanski and Mike Edwards - pitched and blew saves in the 10-9 loss. Edwards took the loss an inning after hitting a home run to put the Bats up.

        UP NEXT: The Reds face the Diamondbacks in the second game of the three-game series. Reds right-hander Brian Moehler (2-2, 4.85 ERA) takes on Arizona right-handed ace Curt Schilling (20-4, 2.69).

        Schilling is 6-7 with a 2.67 ERA against the Reds in his career. He beat the Reds 2-1 last year.

Diamondbacks 5, Reds 3 Reds Box, Runs Owners, players digging in their heels D'Backs take advantage of Reds' largesse Dessens' concerns keep him from start Hudson's future might be as closer Reds Notebook: Griffey misses 86th start Pirates 8, Cardinals 0 Cubs 14, Astros 12 Marlins 6, Dodgers 3 Giants 1, Mets 0 Padres 6, Braves 2 Rockies 8, Expos 6 Louisville 6, Toledo 1

Bengals' offensive line ripe for success
Kitna starts Saturday
Bengals Notebook: Dillon to get first action
NFL Notebook: Cowboys lose Ismail for season
Colerain expects big plays from Johnson & Johnson
NewCath's Schneider still going strong at 64
High School Results
Juco standouts to visit UC
Buckeye starter quits, another suspended
Official striken during WNBA game
Mid-Amateur Golf Scores

• Return to Reds front page...