But Riedling should be able to play catch as soon as today. If that goes well, he may throw a short bullpen session Tuesday when the club opens a series in Atlanta.

"I was lucky - real lucky," Riedling said.

Riedling's left leg went out from under him when he tried to field Patterson's bunt. It was bent at an angle it shouldn't have been.

"I heard a pop," Riedling said. "It was really painful."

But, by the time Riedling got into the clubhouse, he was walking better. An MRI taken Sunday was negative.

"It's just sore," Riedling said.

NUMB NUXIE: Reds broadcaster Joe Nuxhall was a little worn out after his big tribute day.

"Didn't sleep much last night," he said. "I don't know why."

Nuxhall was pleased with the way things went - what he could remember of it.

"In all honesty, I don't remember what I said," he said. "The only thing I remember is pointing (to the crowd)."

UP NEXT: The Reds are off today. They go to Atlanta to open a three-series Tuesday. The three games in Atlanta are followed by three in Pittsburgh and four in Chicago.

KEARNS UPDATE: The game within a game for the Reds now is getting guys ready for next year, seeing who can play where and what may be needed in the offseason. Different players have different things that they need to prove to the brass.

For outfielder Austin Kearns, it's what he needs to prove to himself that matters. He is trying to get back into a groove so that he can take some good vibes into the offseason.

He needs to get his mind as right as his right thumb and right shoulder need to get.

Kearns hurt his shoulder on May 21, 2003 in a collision at home plate with then-Atlanta Braves pitcher Ray King.

"One day I think I've started to figure something out, but the next day it's back to square one," Kearns said after Sunday's loss to the Cubs, in which he was 0-for-3 to drop his average to .220. "I'm just battling, trying to get to something positive."

In the old days, it was not uncommon for even young major leaguers of some experience to play winter ball to make a few extra bucks, refine some skills and see a different part of the world.

But none of that applies to Kearns, because what he needs to do now is get healthy. Only rest will help his thumb and shoulder.

In Sunday's game, the question that many observers had upon watching Kearns fly out to the warning track in right field in the seventh inning with the Reds up only 1-0 and Adam Dunn on third base and Wily Mo Pena on first with two outs was this:

Does a healthy Kearns - with his timing at its best and his shoulder and thumb at full strength - perhaps hit that pitch out of the ballpark?

"Actually, I thought that ball might go (out of the park), because I hit it pretty good," Kearns said. "It really wasn't a pitch I could do a whole lot with - it was on the outside corner - but I did put a pretty good swing on it. It just came up a little short."

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