By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Ray Olmedo was 9-for-17 (.529) in his five-game hitting streak. (Associated Press photo) | ZOOM |

PITTSBURGH - If hitting coach Tom Robson has a complaint about Ray Olmedo, it's that he works too hard.

"He's one of those guys who comes in early every day and works in the cage," Robson said. "Sometimes he overdoes it because he's not that strong."

Olmedo, all 5-feet-11, 155 pounds of him, was in the starting lineup again Thursday. And why not? He was right in the middle of the Reds' last three wins.

Olmedo drove in four runs in Saturday's 5-4 victory at Cleveland, scored a run and drove in another in Tuesday's 5-3 win over Pittsburgh, and scored the tying run in Wednesday's 4-3 victory over the Pirates.

Each time, he credited Robson with helping him adjust to hitting in the big leagues.

"He's very receptive," Robson said. "He doesn't know the pitchers, so he's always asking about them."

Robson has worked with Olmedo to shorten his swing and go with each pitch where it's thrown.

"When he first came here, he was excited. He was swinging too hard," Robson said. "He's not the type of hitter who's going to hit the ball in the gaps."

Olmedo had a five-game hitting streak snapped Thursday, going 0-for-4. But Olmedo, who has six RBI in his last six games, is hitting .386 over his last 16 games and .323 overall.

Olmedo's best minor-league average was .255 at Single-A Dayton in 2000. He was converted to a switch-hitter, which slowed his progress, but it seems he finally has caught on. A natural right-handed hitter, he was hitting .372 left-handed going into Thursday.

"He's been great to work with," Robson said. "And he's a pretty good little player."

BOONE OUTBURST: Third baseman Aaron Boone knew something was up when he saw the Pirates running off the field.

"That wasn't a good sign," Boone said.

Boone had just been called out on a third strike by umpire Jay Klemm. Boone didn't hear the call because of the crowd, but when he figured out what happened, he went ballistic.

"I definitely lost it," Boone said.

He was ejected after throwing down his bat and helmet. He believes the pitch was a ball, but thought Klemm handled the situation well.

Boone was slightly embarrassed by the whole thing.

"When you act like that, you feel like a jerk," he said.

REITSMA OUT: Chris Reitsma has a sore right forearm that has kept him from pitching for three days. He was available only in an emergency Thursday.

"I felt it on a pitch in Cleveland," he said. "The muscles kind of cramped up. It's nothing serious, thank goodness."

Reitsma long-tossed Thursday and was pain-free. He said he will be available today.

LA RUE, KEARNS OUT: Catcher Jason LaRue and outfielder Austin Kearns were out of the starting lineup again Thursday. LaRue has a bruised left shoulder as a result of being hit by a pitch on Sunday, and Kearns has been out since banging into a wall while making a catch Saturday.

Kearns pinch-hit Thursday and singled in the eighth.

"Hopefully, both of them will be back (in the starting lineup today)," Reds manager Bob Boone said.

LARKIN OFF? Boone would like to give Barry Larkin today off. "But every time I think about it he keeps hitting," Boone said.

Larkin has started 19 of 20 games since returning from the disabled list. He was 2-for-5 with a double Thursday.

GUILLEN HEARING: There's a good chance Jose Guillen's suspension appeal hearing will be July 23 in Cincinnati, when the Reds host Pittsburgh. Bob DuPuy is coming here that day to hear an appeal from Pirates catcher Jason Kendall on his suspension.