Monday, April 19, 1999

PIRATES 4, REDS 2

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Reyes' error lets game get away

BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Sean Casey falls to his knees after striking out in the eighth inning. (Michael E. Keating photo) | ZOOM |

        The most obvious source of the Reds' latest setback, Sunday's 4-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates, was the potential double-play comebacker that reliever Dennys Reyes botched, leading to Pittsburgh's pair of ninth-inning runs that broke a 2-2 tie.

        But Reyes' defenders insisted that the play wasn't that simple, despite its appearance.

        Nor can the Reds' 4-7 record — including 1-5 at Cinergy Field — be easily summarized.

        Each defeat has seemed avoidable for the Reds, who have been outscored by a mere four runs (55-51). But trying to label a single, overriding reason for their woes would cause the same frustration Reyes felt as he sat dejectedly in front of his locker for nearly 45 minutes after the final out.

        “I think everybody's trying a little bit too hard,” left fielder Greg Vaughn said. “We just need to relax, continue to have fun and keep playing.”

Greg Vaughn is hitting .195. (Michael E. Keating photo) | ZOOM |

        Yes, first baseman Sean Casey is hitting .450, and leadoff batter Mike Cameron (.278) is fulfilling hopes. But two of the lineup's premier players, Barry Larkin and Vaughn, are hitting a combined .190 (16-for-84).

        Opponents have outhit Cincinnati by the barest of margins, 95-94. The difference lies in the Reds' .219 average (21-for-96) with runners in scoring position. They were 2-for-10 in those situations Sunday against journeyman Todd Ritchie, making his first Major League start, Scott Sauerbeck, the Northwest High School graduate, and two other Pittsburgh hurlers.

        Pitchers have had well-publicized problems with walks, issuing 46 free passes in defeats compared with 17 in victories. Yet this wasn't abig problem in the series finale. Only one of five Pirates scored after drawing a walk, and that was an intentional pass.

        The Reds added two double plays to the National League-high total of 16 they sported before the game.

Denny Reyes botched a potential double-play comebacker that led to two ninth-inning runs. (Michael E. Keating photo) | ZOOM |

        Reyes' error undermined the Reds' otherwise solid defense.

        Pittsburgh's Mike Benjamin tripled to right field with one out in the ninth. As left-handed pinch-hitter Brant Brown was announced, the Reds replaced Danny Graves (1-2) with the left-handed Reyes.

        After the Pirates countered with right-handed pinch hitter Jason Kendall, whom Reyes intentionally walked, the Reds got exactly what they wanted: Adrian Brown's bouncer toward the mound. Ideally, Reyes would gobble the ball and throw to second base to start an inning-ending double play. Instead, Reyes, whose follow-through carried him to the third-base side of the mound, couldn't field the ball cleanly. Benjamin scored as everybody reached base safely. After a double-steal, Kendall came home on Warren Morris' infield out.

Aaron Boone tags out Todd Ritchie on a throw from Mike Cameron. (Michael E. Keating photo) | ZOOM |

        Reyes, who has pitched effectively (1.29 ERA), made no excuses.

        “When I pitch, I fall off to my right side and I lose the look of the ball,” he said. Asked if he would normally make that play, he replied, “I never have any problem with it ... That never can happen to any pitcher. It was a big mistake.”

        Reyes admitted he rushed himself somewhat: “I was trying to hurry a little bit, because he (Kendall) runs fast.”

        Gullett, who endured similar challenges in his 10-year career, tried to console Reyes.

        “Obviously, he's disappointed he didn't make the play, but I told him I've done it more than once,” Gullett said. “It's easy to perceive it to be an easy play. But it's not, especially when you're falling to the third-base side and the ball's hit back to your left somewhat and you have to backhand the ball and try to move your feet to get in position.

        “If you're sitting up in the stands, it looks easy. But when you're 55 feet from the ball, at the farthest, it's really difficult to read how hard it's hit.”

        Said fellow left-hander Steve Avery, who lasted seven innings for the third consecutive start, “If you're falling away from the plate, anything's tough.”

        The Reds know the feeling.

       

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