By Kevin Kelly and John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer

On the seventh day, Danny Graves got a break.

The Reds closer had pitched in save situations five of the previous six days entering Thursday's game against the Braves.

"The limit for me is when they tell me I'm not pitching," Graves said. "There's not going to be very many times when I tell them I need a day off."

Low pitch counts have benefited Graves.

In his past five appearances - three saves, two blown saves - over four-plus innings, Graves has faced an average of four batters and thrown no more than 18 pitches.

"That's a good workout for me," he said, "and it enables me to come back the next day."

On those days when Graves is not available in a save situation, Reds manager Dave Miley said the closer's responsibility likely would fall to setup man Todd Jones.

Jones has 184 career saves, but none since the 2002 season.

"The opportunities have been there for (Graves)," Miley said. "But sometimes you've got to just say it doesn't matter what happens, you're not getting the ball."

RAZOR BURN: That clean-shaven pitcher in the Reds bullpen Thursday was none other than Phil Norton.

The left-hander, trying anything to get better results, shaved his well-established goatee after Wednesday's game.

"Time to start from scratch," he said.

Norton gave up a critical three-run home run to Rafael Furcal that put the Braves ahead 9-5 in the 10th inning Wednesday, and has a staggering 40.50 ERA (six earned runs) over his past four appearances, covering 1 1/3 innings.

"I haven't been able to make pitches when I've need to and have been leaving balls over the plate," Norton said. "It's just something I've got to break out of. A good outing here pretty soon maybe will turn it around."

IT'S OFFICIAL: Right fielder Austin Kearns' season batting average dropped to .140 after Thursday's 0-for-2 performance.

He has one hit in his past 35 at-bats.

"I'd say he's in a little bit of a slump," Miley said. "You've got confidence Kearns is going to hit. There's no reason to think that he's not."

Kearns has not been himself at the plate since a home-plate collision May 21 at Turner Field required shoulder surgery. In 50 games played since, he is hitting .191 with four home runs and 18 RBI.

CHECK UP: Reds pitcher Josh Hall flew to Cincinnati early Thursday to have his surgically repaired right shoulder examined at Great American Ball Park.

"If everything checks out I can start throwing off the mound on Monday," said Hall, who had a torn labrum repaired Sept. 29.

The Reds twice recalled Hall from Double-A Chattanooga last season. He finished 0-2 with a 6.57 ERA in 24 2/3 innings pitched.

GRIFFEY OUT: Ken Griffey Jr. will miss tonight's series opener in Pittsburgh to attend funeral services for his maternal grandfather, Curtis Littleton, who died last week.

ODDS AND ENDS: The start of the game was delayed one hour because of rain. The second rain delay lasted 1 hour, 47 minutes. ... Braves catchers were 0-for-11 against base stealers before Johnny Estrada threw out D'Angelo Jimenez at second base in the first inning. ... Jimenez is hitless in his past 23 at-bats.