Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Jr.got another day off Sunday to give his left hip and left upper-thigh muscles an extra day to heal.

        That extra time will enhance Griffey's chances to play today in St.Louis, said Reds medical director Tim Kremchek.

        The lineup Cincinnati trotted out Sunday — Jose Guillen batted cleanup — wasn't exactly one to cause the Reds' season-ticket phones to start ringing off the hook.

        But outfielder Adam Dunn has struggled (eight hits in his last 66 at-bats, a slump that has sent his batting average spiraling from .286 to .262), and Griffey's banged-up lower body isn't able to stand the rigors of daily play.

        The leaping, over-the-shoulder catch Griffey made in center field Thursday, with his feet hitting the rubberized warning track hard, jammed his hip and quadriceps, said Reds manager Bob Boone. As a result, Griffey hasn't been in the starting lineup the last three games.

        When Junior doesn't have his legs, his swing lengthens out. The Reds figure they're better off spelling him with Reggie Taylor until Griffey has the legs to swing well again. That figures to be today.

        The question on everybody's mind, of course, is whether Griffey will ever return to being a full-time, home-run hitting superstar, or is his career going the route of such former sluggers as Mickey Mantle and Ted Kluszewski? Their numbers dropped off a cliff in their early 30s and never returned. Both were done in by their lower bodies.

        Is Junior, at age 32, done like they were done? Nobody knows, including Griffey. And it doesn't matter what anybody says, anyway. As Griffey himself said after Thursday's business-day special — when it appeared there might be a players' strike the next day — the only thing keeping him “sane” is this: He's doing all he can do to keep playing and be as productive as possible.

        Griffey pinch-hit Sunday in the seventh inning with one on and one out and the Reds trailing 4-2. He hit a double-play groundball, but the throw pulled Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Richie Sexson off the bag. Griffey advanced to second on a single by Todd Walker. Aaron Boone ended the inning with a lineout to third base.

        THIS AND THAT: The Reds are recalling knuckleballer Jared Fernandez from Triple-A Louisville. Right-handed pitcher Jose Silva, who has pitched only 12 innings for the Reds this year because of elbow and shoulder problems, is now back with the big club and available for duty.

Brewers 4, Reds 2 Reds Box, Runs Reds vs. Cardinals series preview Griffey rests up for Cardinals series Brewers outfielder Sanchez breaks ankle, out for year Baseball: Closing the gap? Baseball set for September stretch drive A's win 18th straight on Tejada's walk-off dinger Cubs 5, Cardinals 4 Dodgers 2, Astros 1 Marlins 8, Pirates 4 Louisville 6, Indianapolis 4

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