Sunday, August 16, 1998

BY JOHN FAY
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Eddie Taubensee attempts to block the plate in a collision with Expos' Wally Bell. (Craig Ruttle photo) | ZOOM |

When the Reds traded Jeff Shaw to Los Angeles Dodgers, they got the man they wanted in Paul Konerko. But, now a month after the trade, it looks like they also got the man they needed in Dennis Reyes.

"He was the key to that trade," Reds manager Jack McKeon said. "He's the guy (General Manager) Jim (Bowden) held out for, as bad as we need starting pitching."

Reyes, the 21-year-old left-hander, originally known as the other guy in the Shaw-Konerko trade, made his third start for the Reds and for the third straight time he was very good.

He did not figure in the decision in the Reds 3-2 win over the Montreal Expos, but he and reliever Gabe White kept the Reds in it until a winning rally in the ninth inning.

The newest Red, Roberto Petagine, won it with a pinch-hit single that drove in pinch-runner Reggie Sanders. Petagine lined the first pitch to him from Mike Maddux in center for the game-winner. "A hit," Petagine said, "a RBI and to win the game. I'm proud of that."

The win broke a four-game losing streak for the Reds.

Reyes went seven innings, allowing three hits and two runs, while striking out six and walking four. Reyes' totals as a Red: 19 1/3 innings, eight hits, three runs, 13 walks and 19 strikeouts. That's a 1.40 ERA.

"It was hell of a game from the fans standpoint," McKeon said. CP:Jack McKeon

Roberto Petagine is congratulated by Jack McKeon after the team mobbed him for hitting the game winning single. (Craig Ruttle photo) | ZOOM |

That it was. Besides Reyes' pitching and the ninth inning rally, it included a red-seat homer and one of the best throws ever in the ballpark (by the same guy no less).

The red-seater came in the second inning. The Expos young star Vladimir Guerrero led off the second by going down and getting a 0-1 pitch and crushing it. It ended up four rows deep in the red seats above left field -- 461 feet from home plate -- for the longest home run this year at Cinergy Field.

"The pitch was down," McKeon said. "But that's where he (Guerrero) likes it.

It was the 25th red-seat home run in stadium history and the third this year.

It was fitting that the first big moment of the game involved Guerrero because he was one-fourth of history. Guerrero's brother Wilton also was in the starting lineup, and the Reds started Aaron and Bret Boone. That made it the first time since at least 1990 that two sets of brothers played against one another in a major league game.

It's believed to be the first time since the Aaron brothers (Tommie and Aaron) of the Braves and the Alou brothers (Mattie and Felipe) of the Giants played against each other in 1963.

Eddie Taubensee's two-run homer in the fifth inning (his ninth HR of the year) gave the Reds a 2-1 lead.

Reyes' control got him in trouble in the seventh. He allowed a leadoff walk to Shane Andrews. F.P. Santangelo sacrificed Andrews to second. Andrews went to third on a wild pitch.

Bret Boone plays the game of inches, but is unable to tag out Expos' Chris Widger at second. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

Chris Widger followed with a walk. That made it first and third with one out.

Orlando Cabrera hit a nubber that Reyes fielded with his bare hand between home plate and third base. He flipped it to Taubensee in one motion. But the ball and Andrews arrived at the plate at the same time.

Taubensee couldn't hold on, and Andrews was safe with the tying run.

"I lost concentration there," Reyes said.

The Reds might have won it in eighth if Vladimir Guerrero's arm was not as good as his bat. Pat Watkins hit a ball into the right field corner that momentarily got by Guerrero. Watkins was running all the way headed to third. Guerrero's throw from the warning track looked like a white laser beam.

It got to third baseman Andrews on one hop. The call at third had the fans booing, but the throw was something to behold.

"I slid kind of funny," Watkins said, "because I didn't think it would close. I was going to go in standing up."