Enquirer staff and wire services

SARASOTA, Fla. - Jimmy Anderson was impressive Monday in his quest for the fifth spot in the Cincinnati Reds' pitching rotation.

Anderson, a non-roster invitee, pitched four scoreless innings in a 7-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies, whose lineup included Jim Thome, Pat Burrell and David Bell.

"Anderson is biting into what we are emphasizing with him - smoothing out the hesitation in his windup and throwing his sinker over the plate and keeping it down to get ground balls," pitching coach Don Gullett said. "He was outstanding today and most of his outs were ground balls."

Austin Kearns hit a three-run homer for the Reds, his first homer of spring training.

Reds first baseman Sean Casey and third baseman Brandon Larson were scheduled to play but were late scratches.

Casey is coming off shoulder surgery in September and played his first game Sunday. He is scheduled to take alternate days off but felt good and wanted to play, then said his shoulder felt fatigued.

"There was no pain. It was just tired, probably telling me the every-other-day program is best," said Casey, who plans to play Tuesday in Winter Haven against the Indians.

Larson felt pain in his left ribcage while making a throw during batting practice. He was advised not to play and to take treatment for the next couple of days.

Notes: The Reds agreed to one-year contracts with infielder Felipe Lopez and outfielders Austin Kearns and Reggie Taylor. Four players remain unsigned: outfielders Adam Dunn and Ruben Mateo, right-hander Chris Reitsma and utility player Russell Branyan.

The bats: Austin Kearns had his first hit of the spring, a three-run homer the opposite way to right. . . Wily Mo Pena went 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored . . . Jason LaRue had two hits and two RBI.

The arms: Jimmy Anderson started and worked four scoreless innings . . . Jose Rijo made his spring debut with two innings of scoreless relief. He ended his outing by striking out Jim Thome. Rijo did a little arm pump as he ran off the mound. Ricardo Aramboles and Carlos Almanzar each worked a perfect inning.

The rest: The Reds committed three errors. Aaron Boone still hasn't turned a double play. His throwing error cost him a chance.Up next: The Reds go to Winter Haven today to play the Cleveland Indians.

PHILADELPHIA					CINCINNATI
	ab	r	h	bi		ab	r	h	bi
Rollins ss	4	0	1	0	Larkin ss	3	0	0	0
Fyhrie p	0	0	0	0	Brown cf	2	1	2	1
Punto cf	0	0	0	0	Boone 2b	2	0	0	0
Byrd cf	3	0	1	0	Cruz 1b	1	0	1	0
Salazar c	1	0	0	0	Griffy cf	3	1	1	0
Thome 1b	3	0	2	0	Crespo 3b	0	0	0	0
Crmier p	0	0	0	0	Kearns rf	4	1	1	3
Mchdo ss	1	0	0	0	Dunn lf	3	0	0	0
Burrell lf	4	0	0	0	Smthrmn lf	0	0	0	1
Hiles p	0	0	0	0	Lpz 3b-ss	4	1	1	0
Abreu rf	3	0	1	0	Pena 1b	3	1	2	0
JPadilla -rf	1	1	0	0	Stfnski c	1	0	0	0
Bell 3b	3	0	1	0	LaRue c	3	0	2	2
Rhdsn 3b	1	1	0	0	Davis p	0	0	0	0
Pratt c	2	0	0	0	Armbles p	0	0	0	0
Hston 1b	2	0	0	0	Drnsfldt ph	1	1	1	0
Utley 2b	4	0	1	2	Almnzr p	0	0	0	0
VPadilla p	1	0	0	0	Andrsn p	1	1	1	0
Telmaco p	0	0	0	0	Stnson ph	1	0	0	0
Chrtnsn phf	2	0	1	0	Rijo p	0	0	0	0
					Freel ph-2b	2	0	0	0
Totals	35	2	8	2	Totals	34	7	12	7

Philadelphia	000	000	200-2
Cincinnati	003	101	11x-7

E-Boone, Pena, Crespo. DP-Cincinnati 1. LOB-Philadelphia 6, Cincinnati 6. 2B-LaRue 2, Pena, Dransfeldt. 3B-Lopez. HR-Kearns (1). SF-Smitherman.

	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
Philadelphia
VPadll L, 0-1	3	4	3	3	0	3
Telemaco	2	2	1	1	0	2
Cormier	1	2	1	1	0	1
Fyhrie	1	2	1	1	0	2
Hiles	1	2	1	1	0	1
Cincinnati
Andersn W, 1-0	4	3	0	0	0	2
Rijo	2	0	0	0	0	1
Davis	1	5	2	2	0	1
Aramboles	1	0	0	0	0	2
Almanzar	1	0	0	0	0	2

HBP-by VPadilla (Boone), by Fyhrie (Crespo).

T-2:30. A-4,249.