By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer

DUNEDIN, Fla. - Pete Harnisch took another step in his comeback from "Tommy John" surgery.

Harnisch, the 36-year-old right-hander, pitched three innings, and allowed two runs on three hits in a minor-league game between the Reds' Double-A Chattanooga team and Triple-A Louisville team Saturday morning.

The line wasn't great but there were encouraging signs.

"That's the best command I've had," he said. "And everyone said I was throwing my best stuff in the last inning."

Harnisch threw 47 pitches, 27 of which were strikes. The next step is to increase the pitch count to 55 or 60.

While Harnisch's progress has been encouraging, it's clear that he won't be the fifth starter - at least when the season begins.

"I need three or four more starts," Harnisch said.

That means he'll either work in extended spring training in Florida or be on minor-league rehabilitation assignment into mid-April.

"Whatever they think," Harnisch said. "Wherever they want. It doesn't matter."

"I was pleased with what I saw (Saturday)," pitching coach Don Gullett said. "He's progressing. He needs to build arm strength."

HAYNES HAMMERED: Harnisch started for Louisville. Jimmy Haynes pitched for Chattanooga.

The Louisville hitters pounded Haynes early. He allowed three runs on five hits in the first inning.

After Benny Agbayani led off the second inning with a home run, Haynes settled down.

"I think it's pitching in a minor league game," manager Bob Boone said of the performance. "The intensity wasn't there."

Haynes, the Opening Day starter, was coming off his best outing of the spring. He gave up two runs on four hits in 42/3 innings Tuesday against Philadelphia.

RIJO ON PINEDA: Jose Rijo felt badly for Luis Pineda, whom the Reds released on Friday. But he said Pineda is partially at fault.

"He's got a great arm. He hasn't reached his potential," Rijo said.

Rijo said the Reds are right: Pineda did not rehab properly from Aug. 15 shoulder surgery.

"He stayed in Cincinnati one month, then went back to the Dominican," Rijo said. "He should have stayed in Cincinnati."

Rijo was the mentor to Pineda last year when the 28-year-old right-hander made the team with a sparkling spring record. Pineda went 1-3 with a 4.18 ERA. Take out one bad start (five runs in one-third of an inning) and Pineda's ERA was 2.81.

"I feel bad for him," Rijo said. "He called me crying. I hope another team picks him up."

RIJO ON ARAMBOLES: Rijo took Ricardo Aramboles to Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., to have Aramboles' shoulder examined.

Aramboles, one of the Reds' top right-handed prospects, has a torn labrum. But he's going to try to rehab it.

"He's 21," Rijo said. "That's too young to risk surgery.

RIJO ON RIJO: Rijo has been cleared to throw after surgery March 11 to remove a bone chip from his right elbow.

"I'm going to wait until Monday, " Rijo said. "I don't have a good history with rushing it."

AUSTIN POWER: Jeff Austin, the right-handed pitcher obtained in the March 6 trade with Kansas City, has pitched seven straight scoreless innings.

"You're going to see him this year (with the Reds)," said one scout. "(Gullett) has his mechanics straightened out."

Austin is one of 15 pitchers left in camp. The Reds will take 11 or 12 north.

LARSON OK: Brandon Larson played in the field for the first time since tweaking a pulled rib cage muscle last week.

"I felt it a little on that ball I charged," he said "I think I'm going to have that for a while. But today was a good test."