Sunday, June 06, 1999

REDS 7, ROYALS 4 (2ND)

Larkin's HR in 10th completes sweep

BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer

[larkin]
Barry Larkin watches his three-run HR in the 10th inning.
(AP photos)
| ZOOM |
        KANSAS CITY — The Reds commemorated the first doubleheader in the three-year history of interleague play Saturday by resorting to American League-style, homer-heavy baseball — and succeeding with it.

        Cincinnati blasted six home runs in a doubleheader sweep of the Kansas City Royals, capturing the nightcap, 7-4 in 10 innings, after winning the first game, 9-4. The Reds (29-22) stretched their winning streak to seven games and trail first-place Houston in the National League Central Division by 21/2 games.

        The Reds have won 15 of their last 19 games and improved their road record for the season to 17-8. The Reds have won 10 series, lost 2 and split one in their last 13, going 24-13 in that span.

        The Reds will go for their second consecutive road sweep today when Pete Harnisch faces the Royals at 2:05 p.m.

[bere]
Jason Bere, meeting with pitching coach Don Gullett and catcher Eddie Taubensee, was knocked out in the fourth inning.
| ZOOM |
        In the second game, Greg Vaughn's third home run in five games since returning from his strained abdominal muscle pulled the Reds into a 4-4, eighth-inning tie before Barry Larkin launched a 1-1 pitch from former Red Jeff Montgomery over the center-field wall for a three-run, tiebreaking homer with none out in the 10th.

        “There wasn't a power outage today,” said Sean Casey, who homered twice in the opener. He was referring to the electrical failure that knocked out a bank of lights, forced postponement of Friday's game and prompted the doubleheader.

        The Reds own a 7-1 record on their 12-game road trip, their longest in 10 years, which has transformed them into an offensive machine. They have collected at least 10 hits in all but two games on this journey.

[larkin]
Larkin lunges back to first as Mike Sweeney takes a pickoff throw.
| ZOOM |
        “We're thinking of getting our schedule changed to stay on the road,” said manager Jack McKeon, referring to the Reds' 17-8 record away from home, compared to 12-14 at Cinergy Field. Turning serious, McKeon added, “If we play like we're playing now, we'll win at home.”

        The Reds last won seven straight road games from July 3-13, 1986.

        Aside from the result, the nightcap's most notable event was Brett Tomko's first relief appearance since July 27, 1997, ending a stretch of 54 consecutive starts. Tomko pitched three scoreless innings, surrendering just one hit while striking out two.

        Demoted to the bullpen after lasting only 11 1/3 innings in three starts and allowing nine earned runs, Tomko could return to the starting rotation instantly. Jason Bere, Cincinnati's starter in the second game, was knocked out in the fourth inning while allowing all of Kansas City's runs.

        Cincinnati narrowed the difference to a run in the fifth against Royals starter Jeff Suppan. Singles by Larkin, Eddie Taubensee and Mark Lewis generated a run before Pokey Reese smashed a two-run double.

        Rookie right-hander Scott Williamson (5-1) pitched the fi nal two innings, leaving the bases loaded while striking out the side in the 10th.

        The rookie right-hander stretched his scoreless streak to 22 straight innings after allowing two singles and a walk in the last inning.

        “I was really ragged out there,” said Williamson. “But this team is playing really well and they picked me up.”

        The sweep enabled the Reds to clinch their 10th series victory in their last 13.

       


Reds Stories
- REDS 7, ROYALS 4 (2ND)
Box, runs (2nd)
REDS 9, ROYALS 4
Box, runs (1st)
REDS NOTEBOOK
Like it or not, interleague play succeeding Tim Sullivan column

Reds page