Reds scratch Hamilton due to finger injury

NEW YORK -- Reds center fielder Billy Hamilton was scratched from the starting lineup vs. the Mets on Saturday because of a jammed left middle finger. Roger Bernadina replaced Hamilton and batted leadoff.

Hamilton was given a night out of the lineup in Friday's 4-3 loss to New York but pinch-ran in the top of the eighth. He was thrown out trying to steal second base and injured himself on the head-first slide into the bag.

"It's day to day," Hamilton said Saturday while wearing a wrap around his sore finger. "I want to play. I did everything I could today. I took some swings. It's getting better. It will be all right soon."

Hamilton cemented his spot as the leadoff man with a strong Spring Training, but he struggled in his first three regular-season games. He is 0-for-12 with six strikeouts and one walk.

When Hamilton was thrown out by Mets catcher Anthony Recker on Friday, it was only the second time in 15 big league attempts that Hamilton was caught stealing.