Saturday, May 15, 1999

Padres 7, Reds 3

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Neagle hit hard again

BY JOHN FAY
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Pitching coach Don Gullett relieves Denny Neagle. (Craig Ruttle photo) | ZOOM |

        Just when the Reds hoped Denny Neagle would step up, he took another step back.

        Neagle lasted only 5 1/3 innings in Friday's 7-3 loss to the San Diego Padres before a crowd of 20,877 at Cinergy Field.

        “I'm beyond frustrated right now,” Neagle said. “I want to be there yesterday and I'm just not there. It comes to a point where enough is enough. Hopefully, I'll come around sooner than later.”

        Thanks largely to back-to-back bad outings by the pitchers they hoped would anchor the rotation — Neagle and Pete Harnisch — the Reds (14-18) have lost two in a row and are now 5-4 on the once-promising homestand.

        “When you give up five runs in six innings, it's tough unless you're really hitting the ball,” Reds manager Jack McKeon said. “We've got to hold them to three runs to have a chance.”

Sean Casey scores from second on Eddie Taubensee's sixth-inning single. (Craig Ruttle photo) | ZOOM |

        Neagle (0-3) allowed three home runs to the Padres, who came into the game 15th in the National League in home runs.

        The fans at Cinergy showed their displeasure with Neagle with boos.

        “I'm my own worst critic,” Neagle said. “I'm more ticked off than anyone. If I was sitting in the stands, I'd be booing, too.”

        The Reds are now 1-12 over the last two seasons against the Padres.

        The one bright spot for the Reds: Sean Casey had a career-high four hits, pushing his average to .393.

NEAGLE'S STRUGGLES

The Reds thought they were acquiring an ace when they traded for Denny Neagle. But the left-hander has recovered slowly from a weak shoulder and the Reds are 1-4 in his five starts:   • Start 1, 7-4 victory over New York. Allowed four earned runs on three hits in four innings. 0-0, 9.00 ERA.   • Start 2, 1-0 loss to Philadelphia. Pitched six shutout innings on five hits. 0-0, 3.60 ERA.   • Start 3, 5-3 loss to Atlanta. Allowed four earned runs and seven hits in 2ô innings. 0-1, 5.84 ERA.   • Start 4, 7-4 loss to Chicago. Allowed four earned runs in six innings. 0-2, 5.89 ERA.   • Start 5, 7-3 loss to San Diego. Allowed five earned runs in 5 1/3 innings on six hits (three home runs). 0-3, 6.46 ERA.

        Neagle, the 30-year-old left-hander obtained from Atlanta in the Bret Boone deal, struggled through the first inning, throwing 23 pitches. He hit leadoff man Quilvio Veras after getting ahead 0-and-2. Veras eventually scored on Jim Leyritz's sacrifice fly.

        Neagle then seemed to settle into a good rhythm. He retired eight of the next nine batters.

        “I pitched well the second through the fourth,” he said. “But I hit the wall around the 80-, 90-pitch mark.”

        The wall came two outs into the fourth, actually. Former Red Eric Owens doubled to the wall in right center. George Arias followed with his second home run of the year. That made it 3-0.

        That lead looked huge with the way San Diego starter Andy Ashby was throwing. Ashby (5-2) came in with a 2.86 ERA, good for ninth in the NL. He beat the Reds for the fourth straight time. Before the current streak, Ashby was 0-8 against the Reds in 12 starts.

        But the Reds battled back.

        Casey hit the first pitch of the fourth inning into the green seats above right field for his sixth home run of the year. A pitch later, Greg Vaughn took Ashby out to left field for his eighth homer of the season to cut the lead to 3-2. It was the second time the Reds have gone back to back this year. Casey and Vaughn also did it April 9 at St.Louis.

        But Neagle's troubles continued in the sixth. Leyritz hit the second pitch of the inning out to straightaway center for his sixth homer.

        An out later, Owens hit one that just cleared the wall in right field for his second home run.

        Neither homer was a blast.

        “The ball's jumping out of here,” McKeon said. “I thought the ball Owens hit was a pop fly. The only ball I thought was out was Casey's.”

        But they all counted as homers. It was 5-2 and Neagle was done.

        Neagle's line — 5ô innings, six hits, five earned runs, two walks, one strikeout — bal looned his ERA to 6.46. Neagle is a finesse pitcher, so when he's off a little, he gets hit a lot.

        “My location is off horribly,” he said. “I'm a control pitcher who uses both sides of the plate. I'd try to throw a fastball down and in, and it would end up on the outside of the plate. I don't throw 95 miles an hour, so I can't get away with that.”

        The Reds picked up another run in the sixth. Casey led off with a single, his third hit of the game. Eddie Taubensee got Casey in with a two-out single.

        The Reds chased Ashby in the eighth. Casey and Vaughn started the inning with back-to-back hits. The Padres then brought in Ed Vosberg to face Dmitri Young. Young tried to bunt and failed. He then worked the count to 3-2 before flying out.

        The Reds sent Brian Johnson up to pinch-hit for Eddie Taubensee, and the Padres countered with right-hander Dan Miceli. Miceli got Johnson on a called third strike.

        His work was done. The Padres brought in closer Trevor Hoffman to face pinch-hitter Hal Morris.

        Morris managed a walk after falling behind 0-2. That brought up Pokey Reese, who popped to first on the first pitch.

        End of rally, and, with Hoffman on the mound, end of game.

        “We're having a problem scoring runs from third base with less than two outs,” McKeon said. “That comes back to haunt you. We get nine hits, and four are from Casey. We've got to put more together.”

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