Jay Bruce is much more comfortable at the plate this spring.

"It's a lot different this spring. Is my swing ready for opening day? I've only had 15 at bats. I don't think anyone's is," Bruce said.

Bruce singled and walked in three plate appearances against the Minnesota Twins on Friday.

He hit two home runs both to leftfield against the Boston Red Sox and the Netherlands.

"In spring training I definitely try to hit the ball that way. Pulling is more of a reaction. Last spring training I was a little bit pull concious. That may have been the reason that I wasn't as successful early on as I would have liked to be."

Manager Dusty Baker agreed.

"He's swinging th bat a lot better. We told him to stay up the middle. He can hit the ball out of the park anyway," Baker said. "He reported in great shape. He worked hard in the off season."

Bruce is also working on being more patient at the plate. He is trying to swing at better pitches.

"Being aggressive is one of my assets," Bruce said. "But I'm trying to swing at strikes or balls that I can drive. I'm trying not to be afraid of going deep in the count."

Aaron Harang allowed six hits and two runs in three and a third innings against Minnesota in the Reds 3-0 loss.

"My timing was a little off," Harang said. "The ball was moving back over the plate instead of just off the corner. I felt better in the third and fourth innings."

"Aaron threw the ball pretty good. He threw strikes," Baker said. "He had some help from the elements. We made some good plays behind him but that's what happens when you throw strikes."