By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer

TAMPA - Adam Dunn talked to Aaron Boone, the former Red turned New York Yankee turned free agent, Wednesday on the bus ride to Legends Field to play the Yankees.

"I said, 'Give me a scouting report,' " Dunn said. "He said, 'Who's pitching?' I told him (Jose) Contreras. He said, 'Tell (manager Dave) Miley you got a sore hamstring.' "

Dunn didn't, of course.

He was in the lineup when the Reds got their first look at the 2004 model of the Best Team Money Can Buy.

The Reds faced the Yankees for the first time this spring. Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte may be gone, but the Yankees still have some pitching.

Contreras struck out eight and allowed one hit over four scoreless innings.

The Yankees trotted out big boys in the field. The lineup: Kenny Lofton, CF; Derek Jeter, SS; Alex Rodriguez, 3B; Jason Giambi, 1B; Gary Sheffield, RF; Hideki Matsui, LF; Ruben Sierra, DH; John Flaherty, c; and Enrique Wilson, 2B.

"That's a real good lineup," said Paul Wilson, the Reds' starting pitcher. The Yankees lit him up for five runs on six hits over four innings.

By the way, the anticipated sideshow with former Reds general manager Jim Bowden sharing the field with his old team didn't happen.

Bowden was at the Yankees facility early in the day conducting interviews for ESPN2's Cold Pizza. An ESPN producer said Tuesday that Bowden wanted to interview Ken Griffey Jr., but Bowden wasn't on the field when the Reds took batting practice and did not go in their clubhouse.

A Cold Pizza spokesman said the show will air a Bowden interview with Jeter and Rodriguez on today's show.

But a game at Legends is nice diversion from the usual spring training game. Wednesday's game was sold out. It was a night game. And it was the Yankees.

The Reds brought a split squad - they were playing Pittsburgh at home at the same time - but used the starting outfield of Dunn, Ken Griffey Jr. and Austin Kearns for the first time.

The Yankees and the Reds are on opposite ends of the baseball spectrum these days.

Consider this: The Reds traded Boone to Yankees last season because they couldn't afford him any longer. When Boone blew out his knee, the Yankees replaced him with a player who makes $25 million a year.

WILSON'S NIGHT: Paul Wilson, the projected Opening Day starter, had his third straight rough outing. He allowed five runs on six hits Wednesday against the Yankees.

Wilson has allowed 13 runs on 15 hits over 10 1/3 innings in his last three outings.

"I felt all right," he said. "I'm fighting my mechanics. I did some god things and some not-so good things. It's frustrating."

Wilson walked three. He also walked three in his last outing.

"The walks upset me," he said. "I'm rushing. I'm presenting in a way to be down in the zone."

MILEY'S HOMECOMING: Wednesday was the first time Miley managed in his hometown of Tampa.

He only had to leave two tickets. They were for Max Rissler, the former director of the Hillsborough County Recreation Department.

"From about the time I was 10 or 12, I spent a lot of time with him," Miley said. "No question, he had lot to do with me being here."

Miley's father, Charlie, was also at the game, but he came with a friend who has Yankees' tickets.

CLEARED AND SIGNED: Outfielder John Vander Wal cleared waivers Wednesday and signed a minor-league contract.

Vander Wal, who tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in January, will work with Reds physical therapist Tim Elser the remainder of camp before returning to Cincinnati for additional rehab once the season begins.

E-mail jfay@enquirer.com