Sunday, May 31, 1998

BY SCOTT MacGREGOR
The Cincinnati Enquirer

LOS ANGELES -- Dmitri Young can thank Scott Winchester for the home run he hit Saturday.

When Young launched his sixth homer of the year in a 7-1 Reds' victory over the Dodgers, he was using Winchester's bat. Turns out he had no choice. The shipment of bats Young uses to hit left-handed hasn't come in, and Winchester uses the same kind of bat.

"I had two hits with it (Friday)," said Young, now hitting .333. "I was 0-for-4 with my other bats and 2-for-2 with his."

Big comeback The Reds have watched many times this season as opponents got key two-out hits in late innings to win. Finally, on Friday, it happened for them too.

Trailing 4-2 with two out in the ninth, of what looked like another loss, the Reds scored two to tie it off Dodgers' closer Scott Radinsky. Bret Boone singled, pinch-hitter Melvin Nieves singled, pinch-hitter Chris Stynes singled in Boone and Reggie Sanders singled to score the tying run.

In the 12th, again with two outs, they had four runs, with the winning hit a triple to right by Barry Larkin that scored Eduardo Perez from first. Eddie Taubensee and Willie Greene had RBI singles and Dmitri Young had an RBI double.

It ended up an 8-4 Reds' win.

"I hope they remember it," said manager Jack McKeon. "It was nice to see some of the guys who were struggling get key hits. It ranks among the top wins all year."

Good moves

McKeon made all the right moves in the ninth when pinch-hitters Nieves and Stynes got key hits and pinch-runner Pokey Reese scored the tying run. He also looked good for leaving closer Jeff Shaw in for three innings, allowing the Reds' hitters a chance to win it. "That's when you become a genius, when guys execute," McKeon said. "We were just trying to win a game."

Shaw, who is tied for the league lead with 15 saves and who hadn't pitched three innings since July 1997.

Up next

The Reds and Dodgers conclude their four-game set with a 4:05 p.m. EDT start today from Los Angeles. Left-hander Mike Remlinger (3-6, 4.06) starts for the Reds against Dodgers' right-hander Ismael Valdes (4-6, 5.48).

Reds page