SpringfieldNewsSun.com

SARASOTA, Fla. — As usually happens in an intrasquad game, the no-names — guys not quite ready for prime time — were the ones to make the first splash.

That's the way it was Tuesday when the Home Reds defeated the Visiting Reds in a 5 1/2-inning game, 8-2.

Adam Dunn and Ken Griffey Jr. didn't play and the rest of the regulars batted once and went fishing, leaving the heroics to Drew Anderson and Paul Bako.

Bako, bidding for a back-up catcher slot, drove in three runs and broke a 2-2 tie in the fifth inning with a two-run double. Anderson, an outfielder claimed off waivers from Milwaukee, was 2 for 3 and followed Bako's double with a three-run homer. Pitcher Sergio Valenzuela gave up six runs in the fifth inning.

Shortstop Paul Janish made three superb plays and singled home a run.

The pitcher star was Johnny Cueto, who struck out two in his perfect inning.

"Saw some good things today, especially some quality pitching," said manager Dusty Baker. "Some real good hitters, too. Anderson looked great. Everybody got the signs — that's what I like. No missed signs, that's what I like. And Cueto looked awesome."

Janish drew special attention from Baker, who said, "Janish made three good plays and I can see he can play. And he has been working on his hitting."

Gonzalez injured

Shortstop Alex Gonzalez is out of action for at least four days with a bone bruise on his left knee. An MRI was negative, but he won't work out until at least Friday when team physician Dr. Tim Kremchek returns to camp and examines him.

"We're going to sit him a couple of days," said Baker. "Wait until he sees Dr. Kremchek. It's similar to something that happened to him last year. Better to find out now than later. He is hurting a little bit, something that comes and goes."

Not so funny

Baker doesn't think the prank the Philadelphia Phillies pulled on pitcher Kylie Kendrick was funny. Everybody in the Phillies front office was in on it — telling a stunned and ashen-faced Kendrick he was traded to Japan. It was even videotaped and is on YouTube.

"That ain't funny, though it's funny now," said Baker. "Tommy Lasorda did that to me on April Fool's Day after I had a real bad year the season before and got hurt — my first year with the Dodgers.

"He told me I was traded to Cleveland," said Baker. "And at that time Cleveland wasn't the place to go. I said, 'C'mon, Tommy, really?' They had that big old empty stadium and it was cold. Then he said, 'What day is it? April Fool's. Yuck, yuck, yuck, yuck."

Visit from the Hall

Brad Horn from the National Baseball Hall of Fame visited Ken Griffey Jr. early Tuesday morning, "To thank him for being so cooperative and sending us memorabilia, about a dozen excellent pieces, without being asked."

With Griffey only seven homers away from 700, Horn was making certain the Hall would continue to receive significant artifacts, "Although Griffey is just like Hank Aaron was. He also sent us stuff all the time, unasked," said Horn. "A lot of guys send us two or three things, then forget about us."

Quote of the day

"Nobody got hurt, that's what I like most." — manager Dusty Baker after Tuesday's intrasquad game.