Reds’ burner challenges WR

Now this could be a Run for the Roses, Cincinnati style.

Shortly after racking up his 200th career stolen base Thursday, Reds speedster Billy Hamilton said he’d be willing to race recently drafted Bengals blazer John Ross in a 40-yard dash for charity.

Ross, a wide receiver from Washington and the Bengals’ top pick last week, set an NFL Scouting Combine record of 4.22 seconds in the 40. Hamilton leads all major leaguers in steals since his debut in 2013.

“I know he’s really, really fast,” Hamilton said after Thursday’s win against the Pirates. “It is something I look forward to. I’m a competitor. I’m willing to do it for a charity event. I haven’t done a 40 since ninth grade, a 4.5 flat.”

“I’d do a 40. There’s no way I could do 100. This is the wrong season to do 100,” he said.

Nationals

Slugger Bryce Harper left Thursday’s 4-2 win against Arizona after hurting his left groin and is day to day, according to Washington manager Dusty Baker. Harper said he felt the injury while diving to make a catch in the third inning. He batted three more times and was replaced to start the seventh. Harper went 0 for 3 with a walk and a run. He is batting .376 with nine homers and 27 RBIs.

Twins

Center fielder Byron Buxton will get checked after twice running into the wall chasing flyballs. In the second inning Thursday against Oakland, he slammed into the fence so hard that the door to the bullpen opened. In the fifth, he hit the wall again, knocking his hat off. Buxton left the game and passed initial concussion tests.