By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer

ST. LOUIS - Shortstop Barry Larkin thinks the injury to his left calf is minor this time.

"I don't think I'm DL-bound," Larkin said.

But that is a possibility if the injury doesn't respond quickly.

Larkin re-injured his left calf running the bases Tuesday night. The original injury put Larkin on the disabled list and forced him to miss 22 games before returning eight days ago.

Larkin thought he might be headed toward a similar ordeal Tuesday.

He was feeling much better Wednesday.

"I woke up and it felt pretty good," he said. "I went to see (Dr. Tim Kremchek). He asked if I could jump up and down on one leg. I could. The last time I did it, I couldn't walk the next day. What might have happened, Doc said, was some scar tissue broke loose."

Larkin thought he could pinch-hit in an emergency Wednesday. But Reds manager Bob Boone wasn't planning to use him at all.

With Larkin on the shelf, the Reds are without an extra infielder. That's why Larkin could end up on the DL if the injury doesn't respond quickly.

"We can't wait too long," Boone said. "We'll wait a little period."

Because the injury lingered last time, the Reds were forced to put Larkin on the DL four days after it happened.

"With four infielders, it's tough," Larkin said. "I hate to leave them in that situation."

The Reds have some flexibility because three of the four available - Juan Castro, Aaron Boone and Felipe Lopez - can play shortstop, second or third.

So who's the emergency infielder?

"We'll activate (coach Tim) Foli," Boone joked.

Wily Mo Pena did play first and third in spring training. Jason LaRue has also played first and third.

HAYNES SCHEDULE: Jimmy Haynes is scheduled to make a rehab start Friday in Dayton. Haynes was fine after a bullpen session Tuesday.

BRANYAN UPDATE: No date has been set for Russell Branyan to go to Sarasota and play in an extended spring training game.

Branyan needs to play third and left field to test his throwing arm. He had shoulder surgery in October.

"He's still a little sore," Boone said. "

RECORD PACE: Adam Dunn, with 13 home runs through 39 games, is on pace to hit 53. The Reds' club record is 52 by George Foster in 1977.

IN FOR MARTY: Dan Hoard arrived Wednesday in time to fill in for Marty Brennaman on the Reds' radio broadcast.

Brennaman will miss the rest of the road trip to attend the funeral of his mother, Lillian.

Hoard, the voice of University of Cincinnati football and basketball, will do all five games Brennaman will miss.

FARM REPORT: In his sixth start for Triple-A Louisville, Pete Harnisch went six innings, allowing two runs on nine hits in a 4-3 win over Scranton.

Rainer Olmedo, once a candidate to be the Reds' shortstop of the future, went 2-for-3 in Double-A Chattanooga's win over Greenville. Olmedo's a good enough fielder to play in the majors right now. His .304 average may get him consideration if Larkin does go on the DL, although the Reds like the speed Ryan Freel adds to the mix.

UP NEXT: The Reds play the Cards in the finale of the three-game series in a 1:10 p.m. game. John Riedling (0-1, 5.54 ERA) faces Garrett Stephenson (2-2, 4.68).

E-mail jfay@enquirer.com