By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Jimmy Haynes pitched well in his final start before Opening Day. Haynes went five innings in the Reds' 6-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox.

He allowed no runs on five hits. He walked one and struck out two.

"My sinker was pretty good today," Haynes said. "If I go into Opening Day with the same mentality and the same sinker, I'll have a pretty good day."

Haynes finished the spring 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA.

STINNETT EJECTED: Kelly Stinnett had never been ejected from a game in his life until Wednesday.

Stinnett was tossed by home-plate umpire Tim Tschida while Stinnett was warming up Kent Mercker in the ninth inning.

"He said, `Nobody's going to sit on his (butt) all day and tell me what's a strike,' " Stinnett said. "I said, `Was that directed toward me?' That's when I went off."

Stinnett admitted that he disputed a ball call on a 1-2 pitch from John Riedling to Manny Ramirez.

"It was right on the outside corner," Stinnett said. "I've got 10 years in the big leagues. (Tschida) has to show me some respect. If I got tossed every time I questioned a ball or strike, I'd never catch a game."

Ryan Hanigan, who has six games of experience at Single-A, caught the rest of the inning.

GRAVES SITUATION: Danny Graves had to leave a minor-league game because of a blood blister on his finger Wednesday.

Graves is scheduled to pitch in a minor-league game again Monday. He'll start his first regular-season game April 5.

Boone said the blister could jeopardize that start, although he wasn't ready to come up with a contingency plan.

Graves has had blisters in the past.

"They usually aren't a big deal," trainer Mark Mann said.

WILSON SCHEDULE: Paul Wilson, Graves and Pete Harnisch will stay behind when the Reds break camp today.

Harnisch will pitch in a minor-league game today. Wilson will do the same thing Friday. Graves will pitch in a minor-league game Monday if his finger is OK.

Wilson will join the team Saturday in Cincinnati. He'll then return to Sarasota to make his final preseason start Tuesday.

He'll make his Reds' debut April 6.

Including today, Harnisch is still three outings from being where he needs to be as far as arm strength. The two outing after today will be for Triple-A Louisville.

"He's healthy," Boone said. "He's just behind."

Because Harnisch is under a minor-league contract, he can pitch for Louisville as long as necessary to get ready.

REDS FOR TWO DAYS: Ryan Freel, Corky Miller, Jacob Cruz and Danny Mateo will make the trip to Cincinnati for the two exhibition games with the Cleveland Indians.

Boone plans to play the regulars for five innings or so in those games.

Freel, Cruz and Miller were in the big-league camp.

Mateo, a 20-year-old Dominican, is the latest slick-fielding shortstop prospect.

SOLD OUT: A limited number of standing-room-only tickets are available for the sold-out exhibition games scheduled for Friday and Saturday vs. the Indians. They will be the first two games in Great American Ball Park.