By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer

CHICAGO - Dave Miley was ejected five times this year while managing the Louisville Bats.

He's yet to get the heave-ho in his stint with the Reds, but he came close in Friday's game against the Chicago Cubs.

Miley thinks he was spared only because he was right.

Home plate umpire Jeff Meals confronted reliever John Riedling in the eighth after Riedling gestured after a ball call he didn't like.

"I told him he didn't come out when Kerry (Wood) showed him up," Miley said. "(Wood) did it three times."

CASTRO, LaRUE OUT: Jason LaRue, one of two Opening Day starters still active for the Reds, had to leave Friday's game with spasms in his upper back.

LaRue has played in 107 games and is 16 at-bats from setting a career high.

Juan Castro also left Friday's game with tightness in his back.

Both were treated by a chiropractor and are day-to-day.

"I got instant relief," LaRue said. "We'll see how it is."

LaRue has been dealing with a sore back for a couple of weeks.

Castro's problem came Friday.

"By the late innings, I could barely move side to side," he said.

HARANG UPDATE: Aaron Harang threw for pitching coach Don Gullett before Friday's game.

Harang left a game he started a week ago with a lower back strain.

"He was much-improved," Gullett said. "We'll see how he reacts to it. If he's OK, we'll have him throw off the mound Sunday."

FREEL UPDATE: Ryan Freel is on the trip. He took batting practice before Friday's game.

Freel, sidelined with a moderately strained hamstring, could return to the lineup for the four-game Pittsburgh series, which begins Monday.

23 FOR LAST 23: Miley used his 23rd straight different lineup for Friday's game.

UP NEXT: The Reds play the Cubs in the second game of the three-game series.

Left-hander John Bale (1-2, 4.24 ERA) will face Juan Cruz (2-5, 5.04).