By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer

PHOTO GALLERY

Photos of Saturday's game

PHOENIX - Barry Larkin says he's still not quite himself. "I don't have that explosiveness out of the box," he said. "I think that's the last thing that will come. But once I get going, I'm OK."

But a reasonable facsimile of Larkin has been a good thing for the Reds.

Saturday night, he made his eighth straight start since returning from the disabled list June 13. He had missed three weeks with a strained right calf. He has had hits in five of the first seven games back and was hitting .300 with three RBI.

"He's been swinging pretty good since he got back," Reds manager Bob Boone said. "We've seen when he had his legs, he does everything well.

"He looks like Barry Larkin."

Larkin has been particularly good lately. He had three hits Thursday and two more Friday. He reached bases six times in the two games, only the third time all year a Reds leadoff man had been on base six times over two games.

"I think I'm able to pick up (hitting) pretty quickly because of my style," Larkin said. "If I was a power hitter, it would be tougher. Guys like (Adam) Dunn have to worry about their timing. I'm just trying to put it in play."

Larkin also has looked like his old self in the field.

"I feel healthy," he said. "I can use my legs. It's a matter of playing. I'm not where I want to be, but I'm getting closer."

LOPEZ UPDATE: Felipe Lopez had six hits in 17 at-bats in his first four games since being demoted to Triple-A Louisville.

The .343 average, the two doubles and two RBI are nice, but what has impressed player development director Tim Naehring is Lopez's attitude.

"He reported the first day," Naehring said. "He didn't take the three days (he's entitled to) like some of our athletes do. He's been there early every day, working with (Wilton) Guerrero and (Brandon) Larson."

MORE LARSON: Larson, who extended his hitting streak to 25 games Friday night, is taking balls at second base.

"That's something we wanted him to try to do," Naehring said. "With (Aaron) Boone playing as well as he is at third, it'll help Larson if he can play second, first and left field."

REITSMA RADAR: Chris Reitsma is throwing as hard as he was when the Boston Red Sox made him a first-round pick in 1996.

Reitsma hit 96 mph on the Great American Ball Park scoreboard meter in his outing Thursday.

"I haven't thrown that hard since I broke my arm," Reitsma said.

Reitsma suffered a broken arm in 1997. He had to redefine himself as a pitcher.

The move to the bullpen is responsible for the increase in velocity. Reitsma had been a starter his entire career until the Reds started using him out of the bullpen in 2001. He began last year as a starter and ended up in the 'pen. This year, 14 of his 17 appearances have been as a reliever.

Reitsma's on a roll. Going into Saturday night, he had not allowed a run in his last seven outings and 10 2/3 innings.

"I'm enjoying it," he said. "It's nice to come to the ballpark every day and know you have a chance to help your team win."

JUNIOR BACK: Ken Griffey Jr. returned to the starting lineup Saturday after missing four starts with inflammation in his right hip.

The plan is for him to play again today.

"I don't know what we're going to do in the fifth inning," Boone said before Saturday's game. "But hopefully, he'll be in there."

UP NEXT: The Reds wrap up the three-game series today at 4:35 p.m. at Arizona.

Right-hander Ryan Dempster (2-4, 6.50 ERA) faces right-hander Andrew Good (3-1, 4.21).

The Reds have won all three of Dempster's starts since he returned from the disabled list. Dempster has pitched extremely well in the last two.

He has gone 14 1/3 innings, allowing one earned run (0.63 ERA) on 10 hits. He has walked four and struck out 12.