Thursday, June 03, 1999

REDS 8, METS 7

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Cameron wins it with 2-run single in 9th

BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Scott Sullivan lets out a yell after getting the save. (AP photos) | ZOOM |

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        NEW YORK — Mike Cameron insisted Tuesday that he was close to emerging from his prolonged slump. Wednesday night, he proved that he was a man of his word.

        The center fielder, who began the game in an 0-for-24 slump, lined a bases-loaded, two-run single up the middle off New York Mets reliever John Franco with two outs in the top of the ninth inning, giving the Reds an 8-7 victory that lengthened their winning streak to five games.

        “I felt pretty comfortable at the plate; that's the most important thing,” said Cameron, who also stroked a two-run triple that opened Cincinnati's scoring in the third inning. “Actually, the ball (seemed) a little bigger tonight, too.

Mike Cameron, hitting a two-run triple in the third inning, hit a game-winning two-run single in the ninth. | ZOOM |

        “I didn't have any pressure on me. I knew the pressure was on them. We had nothing to lose at that point. All I did was try to get a good pitch to hit and put the ball in play.”

        The litany of Cincinnati's recent successes is worth repeating: Thirteen victories in 17 games. Ten victories in their last 12 road games and a 5-1 record on this current trip that continues Friday in Kansas City after an off-day today.

        The Reds also recorded their first series sweep at Shea Stadium since July 7-9, 1986.

Aaron Boone is hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the sixth inning. | ZOOM |

        It is evidence that the Reds appear to be jelling, which is essential, since they're a mere half-game ahead of fourth-place Pittsburgh, which has won six in a row, and remain three games behind first-place Houston, clearly the class of the National League Central Division.

        The Reds' momentum would have stalled without Cameron, who overcame adverse circumstances in the ninth after the Reds roused themselves with two outs, nobody on base and New York protecting a 7-6 edge.

        Greg Vaughn, whose two-run homer in the seventh inning gave the Reds a brief 6-3 lead, drew a walk off Franco, whose 411 career saves rank second on the all-time list. Barry Larkin prolonged the ninth with his third hit, a single that shortstop Luis Lopez smothered in shallow left field.

Barry Larkin throws to first after forcing Mike Piazza. | ZOOM |

        After Vaughn and Larkin collaborated on a double steal, pinch hitter Dmitri Young walked to fill the bases and send up Cameron.

        Franco (0-1) gained an immediate advantage, forging ahead on the count 0-2. Not a good sign, considering Cameron began the evening with 59 strikeouts, most in the major leagues.

        Yet he wasn't nervous.

        “What was I thinking? Just try to see the ball and fight it off until I get a good pitch to hit,” Cameron said. “Everyone knows that Franco loves to get you out with a changeup down and away. Tonight he was a little off.”

        Cameron fouled off the next pitch, took two balls to even the count at 2-2 and fouled off another pitch before driving a Franco fastball into center field, chasing home Vaughn and Larkin.

        “I think (Franco) tried to run it outside, but it ran back over the middle,” Cameron said.

        Reds manager Jack McKeon had Hal Morris, a 10-year veteran and a proven contact hit ter, on the bench. But McKeon insisted he never considered using the steady Morris to pinch hit for the erratic Cameron.

        “It was time to stick with (Cameron) and show him you believe in him,” McKeon said.

        Referring to Cameron's triple and a double play he lined into during the fourth inning, McKeon added: “He hit the ball so well. He was battling all night. You were kind of praying for him to get a hit so this would trigger something better.”

        Scott Williamson (4-1), who stifled the Mets after Danny Graves was charged with four seventh-inning runs that gave New York its one-run lead, earned the decision. Scott Sullivan preserved Cincinnati's edge in the ninth for his first save and the third of his career.

        Cincinnati broke a 3-3 tie in the sixth inning, which Sean Casey opened by doubling to right field. He moved to third on Vaughn's groundout and waited there as Larkin drew an intentional walk. With left-handed Eddie Taubensee due up, the Mets replaced starter Jason Isringhausen with left-hander Dennis Cook. That switch briefly paid off, as Cook retired Taubensee on a foul pop-up. But Cook walked Cameron to load the bases and plunked Aaron Boone with an 0-2 pitch, forcing home Casey.

        The Reds widened their lead to 6-3 in much simpler fashion in the seventh inning. Jeffrey Hammonds, who entered the game after right fielder Michael Tucker's second-inning ejection for arguing a strike call by plate umpire Bruce Dreckman, singled to left with one out off reliever Turk Wendell. One out later, Vaughn lined Wendell's 1-2 pitch over the left-field wall for his 11th homer and second of the series.

        But the Mets forged ahead in their half of the seventh against Graves. Robin Ventura singled and Benny Agbayani walked before pinch hitter Brian McRae doubled in a run. Matt Franco, another pinch hitter, singled to right field, scoring Agbayani and McRae with the tying runs.

        Graves was removed for Dennys Reyes after Rickey Henderson walked. After Lopez sacrificed the runners ahead, Reese short-hopped his throw home after fielding John Olerud's grounder. Pinch runner Melvin Mora slid home easily with the go-ahead run.

       

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