By John Erardi
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Sometimes, young major-leaguers board the team bus to the airport, without really knowing where they're going. There is no such uncertainty for the Reds going into today's opening of a three-game series.

"We know we're going to St. Louis," said Reds manager Bob Boone.

The Reds also know that their hosts know who's coming to dinner.

"It's going to be a heated series," promised the Reds' Adam Dunn, who may need to produce a long ball or two if the Reds are to take at least two of the three games.

Dunn hit two home runs last Sunday on the last day of the Reds' 6-1 homestand to leap-frog teammate Austin Kearns (11 home runs). Milwaukee's Richie Sexson is at the top of the National League home run leader board with 13.

"I won't say it's going to have a playoff atmosphere (in St. Louis), but it's going to be, uh, incredible, after what we did to 'em here (a four-game sweep earlier last week)," Dunn said. "We are definitely going to see their 'A' game."

Last week, it was Aaron Boone and Barry Larkin who hit walkoff home runs against the Cardinals. There will be no such walkoff hits by the Reds in this series - the home team Cardinals will always have the last at-bat.

But, given that the Reds' Scott Williamson is a perfect nine-for-nine in converting save opportunities, that will indeed be a good thing if the Reds can give him a lead.

Chances are, the Cards are going to get better starting pitching out of Jason Simontacchi, Matt Morris and Woody Williams - and better relief pitching (it can't be worse, can it?) - than they got at Great American Ball Park.

The Reds' Paul Wilson (1-3) is going to have to improve tonight in the early going , which was a problem in his last two start. Last Wednesday, he gave up three earned runs in the first inning to the Cardinals; in the previous start, he gave up four first-inning runs to the Giants. In his seven starts this season, Wilson has a 15.43 ERA in the first inning (12 earned runs) and a 3.31 ERA after that (12 earned runs in 32 2/3 innings).

Everybody feels good about the way Danny Graves - the Reds starter Wednesday - is pitching, but Thursday's starter, John Riedling, has to pitch better than he did in his previous start (five earned runs in four innings).

Riedling, 27, a converted reliever who is still auditioning for a full-time spot in the rotation, admitted he tried to be "too fine" with his pitches last Saturday in a loss to the Brewers.

"Yes, too fine," said manager Boone. "Why be 'too fine' when you've got stuff like his? How did he make out trying to be too fine? Hopefully, that will be a lesson for him."

Kearns comes into the St. Louis series on an eight-game hitting streak, and has hit safely in 19 of his last 22 games (.305, 25-of-82, 5 HR, 17 RBI).

"Hopefully, we can keep playing well," he said.

But he's aware of the following fact: Before the Cards arrived in Cincinnati, they had been playing well - a seven-game winning streak.

"I'm sure they're looking forward to this series, after what happened (at Great American Ball Park)," Kearns said. "I'm sure they weren't too happy. They're going to be ready."

---

E-mail jerardi@enquirer.com