The Reds' outfield is whole again—for now

It has been a long time since the Reds' outfield was in one piece. Adam Dunn, Ken Griffey and Austin Kearns didn't play together after May 28 last season because of injuries to Griffey and Kearns. The box score from that last joint appearance, against the Expos in Montreal, shows that good things happen when the three are on the field at the same time.

Griffey got a chance to celebrate after hitting a home run in the fifth inning.The outfield trio went deep 75 times combined last season, but Dunn hit 46 of the homers.The Reds finished sixth in the N.L in homers with 194, so full seasons from Griffey (20 in 2004) and Kearns (nine) should make the Reds even more of a power team.

The Reds were 17-6 last season with Dunn, Griffey and Kearns in the starting lineup.

Ryan Freel cemented his place on the team by filling in for Griffey and Kearns while they were injured. Freel will continue to play a lot as a utilityman.

Kearns didn't learn third base to the club's satisfaction in the offseason, so he had to beat out Wily Mo Pena to keep his outfield job. Done. Pena has been on the trading block this spring.

Cincinnati     003    030    100      7     14      0
Montreal       200    000    300      6      7      0

Cincinnati     AB    R     H    RBI    BB    SO     AVG

Freel, 3B       3    1     1     0      1     1    .255
Castro, 3B      0    0     0     0      0     0    .286
Larkin, SS      5    2     2     1      0     0    .292
Casey, 1B       5    2     4     3      0     1    .390
Griffey, CF     4    1     2     0      0     1    .247
Kearns, RF      5    1     2     0      0     3    .198
Dunn, LF        3    0     0     0      2     3    .253
Jimenez, 2B     5    0     2     0      0     0    .222
Valentin, C     3    0     0     0      2     0    .164
Lidle, P        4    0     1     1      0     3    .158
Matthews, P     0    0     0     0      0     0    .000
Riedling, P     0    0     0     0      0     0    .000
Cruz, PH        1    0     0     0      0     0    .257
Graves, P       0    0     0     0      0     0    .000

Totals         38    7    14     7      5    12

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