Monday, August 24, 1998

BY SCOTT MacGREGOR
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Sean Casey gets congratulated by teammates after a home run in the third inning Sunday. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

MONTREAL -- While most Reds continue to tee off on Expos pitching, Sean Casey seems to like it best.

Casey had his finest day at the plate in his brief major league career Sunday, going 3-for-4 with a single, double and a three-run homer to give the Reds an 8-0 lead in the fourth inning.

The homer, Casey's fourth of the season and second in the last six games, gave him a career-high five RBI.

"He put on a show," manager Jack McKeon said.

Casey went 6-for-8 against Expos pitchers last week in Cincinnati. Casey, 24, has been beginning to find his power. He attributes it to storing and recalling everything he has been learning this season.

"The more you play, the better plan you'll have, and the more you'll know what you want to do," he said.

Casey says not to expect him to hit for the cycle anytime soon. Triples aren't something the lead-legged Casey will hit often. "I was thinking if that center fielder had a heart attack, we'd be in business," Casey said.

Preacher Jack

It wasn't quite a sermon, but McKeon took the pulpit for some good old-fashioned preaching Sunday morning.

It started with McKeon complimenting pitcher Steve Parris on the way he handled Saturday's complete-game shutout and his work ethic in general.

"He's smart. He's a good example," McKeon said. "He says, "I've just got to keep working my butt off, and if he can't fit in with us, maybe somebody else will take a liking to him. He knows that winning three games isn't going to put him in the Hall of Fame."

That whole topic set McKeon off on a rant about bench players who complain about not getting a chance, and good players who coast after they've had some success.

"Sometimes these guys need a wake-up call," McKeon said. "It's the whole industry, not just the Reds."

Another lesson

Pitcher Brett Tomko and pitching coach Don Gullett had yet another talk Saturday after Tomko was shelled for six runs in 2 2/3 innings Friday in Pittsburgh.

Tomko refused to reveal what was discussed: "That's between me and Gully."

Gullett said only that he told Tomko he needs to keep the ball down, and that "he's on the right track. He's very receptive to what I have to say."

Short hops

When Parris retired 17 Expos in a row to finish his shutout, it was the longest such streak for a Red this season . . . with Jason Bere, Mike Remlinger and John Hudek combining for a shutout Sunday, it marked the second time this season the Reds had posted back-to-back shutouts. The first was two weeks ago, both against Milwaukee . . . Barry Larkin scored four runs in five plate appearances. He had two hits and two walks.

Up next

In as good a pitching matchup as you'll get between these teams, Reds right-hander Pete Harnisch (9-6, 3.36) opposes Expos righty Dustin Hermanson (11-9, 3.17) at 1:35 p.m.

Harnisch, who earned his ninth win last Wednesday with a strong 7 2/3 innings in Milwaukee, is trying to reach double-digits in victories for the time in his career. He last reached the 10-win mark in 1993 with Houston (16-9).