Kelly Stinnett started at catcher for the second straight game Friday night. Stinnett, heretofore Jason LaRue's backup, is suddenly the Reds' de facto starter.

        Why?

        “He stops the ball before it hits the backstop,” Reds manager Bob Boone said in an obvious reference to LaRue's problems with passed balls.

        But Stinnett moved up on his own merits.

        “He's been playing pretty good,” Boone said. “We've won games when he's back there.”

        Boone considers catcher primarily a defensive position. That's why Stinnett got the start Friday.

        “He's doing the job catching,” Boone said. “If you do that, you don't have to hit much.”

        Stinnett hasn't. He entered Friday with four hits in his last 35 at-bats. He walked twice Thursday and scored both times.

        Handling pitchers is one of Stinnett's strong suits. That's another reason he was in there Friday.

        “I think (Ryan) Dempster has the most chance for success with him back there,” Boone said.

        Stinnett, who spent nearly four months on the disabled list with elbow, then groin, problems, is happy to be playing.

        “It's pretty exciting to come in and see your name in the lineup,” he said.

        GRIFFEY OUT: Outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. was out of the Reds' lineup Friday.

        “It's just to rest him,” Boone said. “He's kind of been feeling it.”

        Griffey still has lingering soreness from his hip flexor/quadriceps problem.

        CALLUPS: The Reds probably will reserve judgment on September call-ups until after the three games with the St.Louis Cardinals next week.

        “It could be as few as none,” Boone said.

        Added Reds general manager Jim Bowden: “It depends on how we're doing, and most importantly, how we're playing.”

        Bowden said right-hander Jose Silva and third baseman/outfielder Brandon Larson, who are on the disabled list, will be added to the roster Sunday. Right-hander John Riedling will be added Wednesday, the first day he is eligible to come off the disabled list.

        NICE GESTURE: Reds relief pitcher Scott Sullivan purchased use of the Champions Room for Friday's game to entertain volunteers from Children's Hospital. Sullivan visited the box, in uniform, before the game.

        SURGERY: Reds right-hander Carlos Almanzar will have surgery to remove bone chips from his elbow. Almanzar has been on the DL since June11 after being hit on the finger by an Alex Rodriguez line drive.

        TRANSACTION: Outfielder Noochie Varner was traded to the Detroit Tigers as one of the two players to be named later in the Brian Moehler deal. Varner, 21, was hitting .310 with 10 home runs, 69 RBI and 37 steals at Single-A Dayton.

        UP NEXT: The Reds play the Milwaukee Brewers at 7:10 p.m. today in the second game of their three-game series. Reds right-hander Chris Reitsma (5-9, 3.61) returns to the rotation to face right-hander Ben Sheets (8-15, 4.49).

Reds should benefit from deal Baseball deal has something for everyone DAUGHERTY: Free money should mean free agents Highlights of the labor deal Reds relieved to keep playing Twins saved; Expos to D.C.? Bows, barbs for Selig Deal lifts burden from Boone Brewers 9, Reds 4 Reds Box, Runs Reds Notebook: Glove earns Stinnett more time Brewers end strange day with high five Cardinals 6, Cubs 3 Astros 8, Dodgers 4 Royals 5, Mariners 1 Angels 6, Orioles 2 Athletics 4, Twins 2 Giants 7, Diamondbacks 6 Padres 2, Rockies 0

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