By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer

PHOTO GALLERY

Photos of Sunday's game

Watching Ryan Wagner pitch to (and retire) five batters Saturday, Reds manager Bob Boone couldn't help but wonder.

"I was thinking that he would look pretty good as a starter," Boone said.

Wagner, a 21-year-old right-hander, was a relief pitcher for his entire college career at Houston.

The Reds talked about converting Wagner to a starter when they made him the 14th pick overall in the draft.

The plan is to keep him in the bullpen this year and then possibly convert him next spring.

"We'd have to go back and research it," Boone said. "Why wasn't he starting in college? Right now, we don't want to mess with him."

Wagner said he was switched to the bullpen at Houston out of necessity.

"Some guys just can't pitch out of the bullpen," he said. "I could start or relieve. They needed me in relief."

Wagner is open to the idea.

"I'll do whatever it takes to stay in the big leagues and help this club," he said.

Wagner pitched more than 75 innings for Houston this year before the draft. He was on a program in the minors where he only threw one inning every third day.

"It's like he's had a month off," Boone said.

Wagner will continue in Scott Sullivan's setup role, at least until Sullivan returns from the disabled list in nine days.

LARKIN SITS: Barry Larkin was a late scratch from Sunday's lineup.

Boone planned on playing Larkin Sunday and giving him today off.

"He'd rather have (Sunday) off and play (today)," Boone said. "He was tired and achy."

Larkin pinch-hit in the ninth inning Sunday and flied out. Larkin has played in 31 of 32 games since returning from the disabled list on June 13. He's hit .280 in that span, but is 0-for-his-last-10.

STREAK ON: D'Angelo Jimenez singled in the seventh inning Sunday to extend his hitting streak to a career-high 10 games.

He's hit in all 10 games as a Red. The Reds acquired him from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for minor league pitcher Scott Dunn on July 6.

FARM REPORT: Former No. 1 pick Ty Howington went five innings, allowing two runs on five hits, to earn the win in Single-A Potomac's 4-2 win over Lynchburg.

Wily Mo Pena has two hits in 11 at-bats on his rehab assignment at Triple-A Louisville.

Felipe Lopez went 1-for-2 with two walks in Louisville's 10-3 loss to Ottawa to extend his hitting streak to eight games.