By John Fay and Kevin Kelly
The Cincinnati Enquirer

PHOTO GALLERY

Photos of Friday's game

The Reds game had that here-we-go-again feeling when Scott Williamson trotted in to pitch the top of the eighth inning Friday night.

The Cubs had just tied the game 9-9. Not good, after the Reds had led 7-0 after three innings. Loss No. 4 seemed inevitable.

There were runners at first and second, one out, and Sammy Sosa was coming to the plate.

Williamson struck out Sosa. Then he walked Moises Alou on four pitches to load the bases. But Williamson then struck out Heep Seop Choi on a 3-2 pitch with a 96 mph fastball.

Williamson worked a 1-2-3 ninth to close out the Reds' first win of year.

"You go out and do the best you can," he said. "I threw my best pitches tonight."

Williamson, the new closer, had not worked more than an inning all spring.

"That was on my mind when I went out there," he said. "But after the first pitch, I was OK."

The confrontation with Choi was classic. Williamson's first three pitches were 95, 96 and 97 mph. The fourth pitch, a split-finger, was in the dirt. Jason LaRue blocked it to save a run.

"That was the play of the game," Williamson said.

MONEY MATTERS: The Reds don't count payroll the same way the Associated Press does. The club figures its payroll at $58.6 million. The AP list that came out Thursday had the Reds at $56.9 million.

"People account for things in different ways," Reds general manager Jim Bowden said. "But the AP list is good. It compares apples to apples. They get it right from the Players Association."

The difference in the AP's figures and the Reds' is the way they count the deferred money to Ken Griffey Jr. and Barry Larkin. The AP lists Griffey at $10.1 million. In the Reds' books, he's listed at $11.3 million. He's paid $6 million up front, and the team sets aside $5.3 million for his deferred payments.

The AP lists Larkin at $9 million. The Reds count him at $9.4 million.

No matter how you count Griffey and Larkin, the Reds would remain 17th on the list.

The Reds are fourth in payroll in the National League Central, behind the St. Louis Cardinals ($83 million), Chicago Cubs ($80 million) and Houston ($70 million).

Pittsburgh ($54 million) and Milwaukee ($40 million) spend less.

GRAVES SITUATION: Danny Graves was his usual chatty self before Friday night's game with the Chicago Cubs.

That's usually not the case with a pitcher on the night he starts, and Graves started Friday night.

"Just because I changed roles, I'm not going to change what I am," he said. "Other starters keep to themselves. I can't do that. It would eat me up if I don't talk."

RIJO STAYS SOUTH: The Reds bought a plane ticket and had a hotel room for Jose Rijo if he wanted to be in Cincinnati for Opening Day. Rijo chose to stay in Sarasota, Fla., to work on his rehab instead.

"I think that was the right choice," Bowden said.

THAT'S THE TICKET: Aaron Boone and Sean Casey are hosting 24 young fans at Great American for a game a week the rest of the season.

"Boonie's Buddies" were guests Friday night. "Casey's Crew" will be there today.

"It's something I wanted to do," Casey said. "It's for kids who can't afford to come to a game."

Boonie's Buddies got an early treat when Aaron hit a two-run homer in the third inning.

EARLY WORK: All seven relievers appeared in the Pirates series.

Part of the reason: Reds starting pitchers lasted four, 6 2/3 and 4 2/3 innings.

"It was good in a way. We didn't spend everybody," manager Bob Boone said.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: As a member of the Braves in 1971, Dusty Baker was part of the second Opening Day at Riverfront Stadium.

Now in his first season as Cubs manager, Baker said he is impressed with Great American Ball Park.

"This is a very nice ballpark,'' Baker said. "The only thing I wasn't too crazy about is the screen out there (on the left-field wall). Somebody might go to climb the wall and there could be a potential spike getting caught. Let's hope it never comes into play."

LOUISVILLE: Pitcher Chris Reitsma started Triple-A Louisville's opener and allowed three runs on seven hits over five innings in a loss to Toledo Friday.

UP NEXT: The Reds play the Cubs at 1:15 p.m. today in the second game of the three-game series. Monday starter Jimmy Haynes (0-1, 13.50 ERA) faces Carlos Zambrano (no record). The game is on Fox Sports Net.