By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer

PHOTO GALLERY

Photos of Friday's game

PHOENIX - Ken Griffey Jr. will return to the lineup tonight for the second game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

"That's what all three of them decided," Griffey said.

He was referring to Reds manager Bob Boone and trainers Mark Mann and Lonnie Soloff.

"He came out and worked out early," Boone said. "We all decided one more day. We'll see how he is. He had a little trouble rounding the bases."

Griffey has some inflammation in his right hip area.

He pinch hit Thursday and was available to do so Friday. But he has missed four straight starts.

"I'm antsy," he said. "I'm always antsy."

Griffey said he feels it when he slides.

"I've been working in the weight room to build up that area," he said.

Reggie Taylor started in center field, with Jose Guillen in left. (Adam Dunn was serving the first game of his suspension.)

It was Taylor's first start since May 15. He has been struggling at the plate, with four hits in his last 26 at-bats entering Friday.

"It'll be good for him to get some at-bats," Boone said.

MUM AGAIN: Reds starter Paul Wilson may talk about the brawl he helped start with the Chicago Cubs at some point.

"But not today," he said Friday.

Wilson was not wearing the bandage on his nose that he was Thursday. It revealed a long scratch on his nose.

MORE WILSON: Wilson's win Thursday was his third in three starts. He has a 2.29 ERA over the period.

His overall record is 5-4, marking the first time a Reds starter has been over .500 since Danny Graves was 3-2 on May 14.

MORE STARTERS: Jimmy Anderson starts the second game of the series tonight.

It will be Anderson's second start since returning from Louisville. The guy he replaced in the rotation, John Riedling, is eligible to come off the disabled list June 27.

That's the same day as Anderson's next scheduled start. Does that make tonight critical for Anderson?

"We're always watching them," Boone said. "I'm expecting him to do well."

Boone said it is not a given that Riedling will go back into the rotation.

"Not necessarily," Boone said. "We'll see what happens."

GRIFFEY ON BRAWLS: Griffey was recounting some brawls from early in his career:

"In Detroit one time, I ran out and grabbed Skeeter Barnes. Then I felt a hand pull me away. It was Cecil Fielder. He said, 'You don't need to be out here, son.'

"In Baltimore, Cal (Ripken), Brady (Anderson) and I watched Randy (Johnson) and Rick Sutcliffe go at it - two 6-12 guys."

FARM REPORT: Brandon Larson continues his tear at Triple-A Louisville. He went 4-for-5 with a grand slam Thursday to push his hitting streak to 24 games.

He's hitting .379 with five home runs and 24 RBI during the streak.

ISN'T THAT SPECIAL: Juan Castro turned 31 Friday. He now makes his home in Phoenix.

"If you guys aren't going to use your tickets, give them to me - not Kelly," Castro kidded, referring to Kelly Stinnett, the other Red who lives in the Phoenix area.

UP NEXT: Anderson (1-3, 7.76 ERA) faces right-hander John Patterson (0-3, 8.53) in the 10:05 p.m. start.