CINCINNATI -- Especially since he’s already missed three months with a strained right groin, Reds second baseman Scooter Gennett was relieved that the tightness in his left groin that put him out of Wednesday’s game was nothing more.

“The next morning, I woke up and it was a lot better than I thought it was going to be,” Gennett said on Saturday. “It wasn’t like it was injured or anything crazy, but it was tight. That was supposed to be my good groin. When you’re down to zero, it’s not a fun feeling. I was just trying to be smart knowing the All-Star break is coming up and I’ve been out long enough where I don’t want to be stupid, especially in that type of situation where we’re already up.”

Gennett was activated from the 60-day injured list on June 28 and started five games.

For a second-straight game, Derek Dietrich started at second base vs. the Indians. Gennett was viewed as available off the bench.

During Friday’s off-day, Gennett tested his legs on the field.

“Everything I’m hearing with what he did yesterday, big relief. It’s not going to be an IL or anything like that,” Reds manager David Bell said. “He ran through a bunch of stuff to test it out. He was moving around pretty well. I doubt he’ll be in the lineup [Sunday], but it will be nice to have him pinch-hit. He’ll be fully available on Friday.”

Bell trusts his relievers

Last week on June 26 and 30, Reds closer Raisel Iglesias had rough appearances where he gave up a combined seven earned runs with five hits, three walks and two home runs over three innings. Following one day of rest after Iglesias threw 41 pitches vs. the Cubs on Sunday, Bell wasn’t afraid to use him three straight days -- three scoreless innings -- for a win and two saves.

Reliever David Hernandez called Monday’s appearance vs. the Brewers his “worst performance of the year,” when he blew a lead and took the loss during a five-run seventh inning for an 8-6 loss to Milwaukee. When the chance came to use Hernandez to retire pinch-hitter Jesus Aguilar for Luis Castillo in the eighth inning coming out of a rain delay, Bell didn’t hesitate. Hernandez struck out Aguilar and gave way to Iglesias for the ninth.

“You try to certainly stay connected to what guys are doing and where they are. You also have to trust the track record and know these guys have gone through it before, especially the guys that have been around,” Bell said. “They know how to get themselves out of stretches where they need to make adjustments. As long as we know that they are making those adjustments, they need to continue to get opportunities.”

Cincinnati’s 3.76 bullpen ERA entering Saturday was second-best in the National League and fourth in the Major Leagues.

“There’s a lot of confidence in being able to do that when you see a guy that’s done it before,” Bell said. “You almost expect them to go through a few games here and there where they’re not at the top of their game. That’s just a part of it. You can’t overreact to that. It makes it easy when you have guys that have been doing it for years and know how to get themselves back on track.”

Worth noting

The Reds released veteran lefty reliever Zach Duke on Saturday. Duke, who was designated for assignment on Monday, went unclaimed while passing through waivers.

Good turnout for Reds birthday bash

A unique in-season event, the Reds' Rockin’ 150 birthday celebration was held at Great American Ball Park on Friday evening. Fans were given access to much of the stadium -- including the press box and diamond club -- and could run the bases. There was also a concert and fireworks. Players and the coaching staff were stationed throughout to take photos with fans.

Around 40,000 free tickets were distributed, but final attendance figures of how many came through the gates has yet to be revealed.

“There was a lot of excitement. It was fun to see that,” Bell said. “It was fun to see people really into what’s going on. It seemed like it was well-planned out and they were enjoying themselves. … Everyone I interacted with, they are into it. That’s important to us. It really is. It’s nice to feel that.”