DaytonDailyNews.com

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Cincinnati Reds general manager Walt Jocketty, told there was a rumor that pitcher Johnny Cueto was injured, checked it out and said, "Nothing wrong."

An American League scout asked early Monday, "How's Cueto? I heard he was hurt. That's what a Reds official told me."

Cueto pitched 4 2/3 innings Sunday, March 8, for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic, giving up no runs and three hits while striking out five.

To be certain, Jocketty called Reds coach/Dominican pitching coach Mario Soto, "No problem," Jocketty said. "Cueto did twist his ankle a bit covering first base, but Soto said, 'No problemo,' and Cueto did his running today."

It's still early

Jeff Keppinger has been playing shortstop until Alex Gonzalez makes his field debut tonight in Tampa against the New York Yankees.

Keppinger is hitting .090 (2-22) and outfielder Jacque Jones is hitting .111 (2-18) but manager Dusty Baker is not concerned, "Because we're talking, what, 15 at-bats? It took me 200 at-bats into the season before I felt comfortable.

"I've seen guys hit .400 in the spring but when they put that third deck on the field (a major-league park) he doesn't hit at all."

Encarnacion hurting

Third baseman Edwin Encarnacion missed a second straight game with a sore hand, but it isn't considered serious.

"He is hurting a little bit, but we're at a point where we don't have to rush," said Baker. "It's his left hand, the same as last spring, something you get from checked swings and not swinging properly."

Kennard improves

Baker used Centerville native Jeff Kennard as an example of not rushing to judgment.

"Kennard looked great Sunday (one inning, one hit, three strikeouts)," he said. "Before that, he didn't look good at all (two innings, six runs, six hits)."

Quote of the day

Jocketty, talking about the state of the economy: "I don't have a 401K, I have a 201K."