By Bill Koch
The Cincinnati Enquirer

PHOTO GALLERY

Photos of Thursday's game

Reds manager Bob Boone attributed right-hander Ryan Dempster's critical comments following Wednesday night's game to frustration and said he did not plan to address the issue with him.

"I don't have any reaction to it," Boone said. "No pitcher likes to get pulled."

After being removed for a pinch-hitter with two out and nobody on in the bottom of the sixth inning, with the Reds leading, 5-4, Dempster complained that Boone had a lack of confidence in his starters.

The Reds eventually lost, 6-5.

"Unless you have a shutout going here, you can't win the game," Dempster said. "It's a confidence thing. It's a tough enough game as it is when you have the confidence, but when nobody behind you is showing any. ... You're always looking over your shoulder all the time."

Boone pointed out that Dempster had allowed eight hits and had walked four in five innings. He had thrown 101 pitches.

"They don't have the same view that I have," Boone said. "I was disappointed that he expressed it in the paper, but it doesn't change anything.

"Believe it or not," he said. "I really try to get starters the win. That's my philosophy. If anything, I leave them in too long. He's frustrated at not having more wins and he's frustrated at having some leads blown."

Dempster is 3-7 with a 6.63 ERA.

LARKIN AILING: Shortstop Barry Larkin, who left Wednesday night's game with cramps in his right hamstring, was not in the lineup Thursday, but did pinch hit in the eighth inning.

Because of the soreness in his hamstring, he was unavailable to play defense.

"We were going to pinch run (Danny) Graves for him if he got on," Boone said.

Larkin said he felt the injury as he rounded third base going from first to home.

"After that, I had a cramp in my hamstring," he said. "The cramping is gone but the strain is not. I guess I'll just be day-to-day until it's better."

RARE START: Russell Branyan received a rare start Thursday, getting the nod at third base. It was his 10th start of the season and his first since July 9 at Houston.

His last six appearances had been as a pinch-hitter. Branyan delivered a pinch-hit grand slam Monday against the Milwaukee Brewers. He hit a solo home run to lead off the fifth on Thursday that tied the game at 4-4.

"I'm going to try to work him into the lineup," Boone said. "He's had some real solid at-bats."

Boone was also looking for a way to rest his son, All-Star third baseman Aaron Boone, who had played in all but one of the Reds' first 100 games.

"Aaron's the one guy who didn't have a break at the All-Star break," Bob Boone said. "I actually thought about moving Aaron to shortstop, but I think he needs a day."

STREAK CONTINUES: Second baseman D'Angelo Jimenez extended his hitting streak to a career-high 14 games with a two-out single to right field in the 11th inning. Jimenez has had at least one hit in each of his 14 games with the Reds since being traded from the Chicago White Sox July 6.

NOTES: Relief pitcher Gabe White, who has been on the disabled list since June 25 with a strained left groin, is expected to throw off the mound today. If all goes well, he'll do a rehab start Sunday at Triple-A Louisville. ... Thursday's crowd of 35,504 pushed the Reds' average attendance for the season to 30,026. They've drawn 1,531,321 fans over 51 dates.

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E-mail bkoch@enquirer.com