By Kevin Kelly and John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The numbness and fatigue began in spring training, but Ryan Dempster figured those sensations would subside with time.

When they didn't, when he couldn't throw a ball down the middle of the plate when he wanted, Dempster decided to let somebody know.

"I'd have the occasional bout of soreness and stuff like that. It was just extreme fatigue," he said. "If I really gripped a slider and threw it, it would take me like five or six pitches to deal with it."

Originally scheduled to start today's game, examinations Wednesday found an inflamed nerve in his neck that will sideline him at least one start. Right-hander Chris Reitsma (2-1, 6.28 ERA) will start today.

"If we have to take a week off right now rather than a couple of months later in the year, I'll take it," Dempster said.

Dempster is 1-2 with a 7.22 ERA in seven starts this season.

Of more concern than his ERA have been the number of walks Dempster has issued. He walked 93 batters total last season but has allowed 33 total and no fewer than five in each of his starts this season.

"No question," manager Bob Boone said when asked if he thought this injury caused Dempster's early-season struggles. "I learned a long time ago not to look at velocity but the accuracy."

STAY TUNED: Pitcher Jose Rijo is back in the United States after tending to "personal issues" in the Dominican Republic and might be a few weeks away from pitching in the minor leagues.

A non-roster invitee to spring training, Rijo left Florida less than two weeks ago after two appearances in extended spring training.

"He was working out at his academy down there (in the Dominican Republic)," said Tim Naehring, Reds director of player development. "Hopefully he just continues where he left off."

The 37-year-old, who returned to the Reds in 2001 after a six-year absence, is trying to come back after his sixth arm surgery.

He had a bone spur removed from his right elbow March 11, an operation the Reds initially believed would require four weeks of rehabilitation.

The club announced Thursday that Rijo has a strained left hamstring and is expected to begin throwing again next week.

If Rijo is ready in the next two or three weeks, he probably would be assigned to Triple-A Louisville.

SLUMP BREAKER: First baseman Sean Casey was in an 0-for-14 slump overall and was hitless in his last 22 at-bats at Great American Ball Park entering Thursday.

That ended when Casey homered in the first inning. He later added a run-scoring single in the sixth.

WILLIE SAVES: Scott Williamson worked a 1-2-3 ninth for his eighth save in eight chances Thursday.

A lot has been said about Danny Graves' move from closer to the rotation. But the Reds have to be pleased with the other side of the equation - Williamson as the closer.

Graves was 11-for-14 in save chances at this point last year. He probably would have similar numbers this year if he were in that role.

"With the way Danny was throwing early in the year, he would have had plenty of blown saves," Reds manager Bob Boone said.

Williamson's stuff is more suited for closing. That was part of the move.

"Willie's the classic closer," Boone said. "He gets in trouble, but he can get out of it with the strikeout. Danny's a groundball pitcher. Some of the groundballs roll through."

Williamson constantly fights the urge to overpower. He kept that in check Thursday.

"I really focused on first-pitch strikes," he said. "I'm trying to locate my fastball. I didn't have my best stuff today. But I was able to locate the fastball."

LARKIN HURTING: When Barry Larkin came out of Thursday's game in the seventh inning for Felipe Lopez, it looked like a defensive change.

It wasn't.

"Later in the game, my calf started to cramp up," Larkin said. "That's why they took me out of the game."

Larkin was making his first start since returning from the disabled list. He missed 18 games with a strained left calf.

ODDS AND ENDS: Larkin's error in the first inning ended a two-game errorless streak for the Reds, longest of the season. ... The Reds have been outscored 35-16 in the first inning this season.