Tuesday, June 22, 1999

REDS 7, DIAMONDBACKS 4

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Taubensee HR lifts Reds in 10th

BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Diamondbacks shortstop Andy Fox lands on the back of Reds' Jeffrey Hammonds after throwing to first to complete a double play. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        PHOENIX — The Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus happens to be performing down the street from Bank One Ballpark. But The Greatest Show on Earth might be only the second-best traveling show in town.

        The Reds took their excellence on the road to new extremes Monday night, as Eddie Taubensee's two-run homer in the 10th inning lifted them to a 7-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

        Cincinnati, the National League's most successful road team (20-10), outlasted Arizona, which owns the major league's best home record (24-11). Not only did the Reds defeat the West division leaders, but more importantly, they also whittled first-place Houston's edge in the Central to five games.

        The Reds beat the Diamondbacks not only in their own park, but also at their own game. Though Arizona began the evening atop the NL's statistical charts in batting average, runs and homers, Cincinnati dominated the slugging and slashing instead, pounding out 15 hits to the Diamondbacks' nine.

        Barry Larkin and Jeffrey Hammonds supplemented Taubensee's blast by homering off Diamondbacks starter Brian Anderson, the former Wright State University standout. The Reds bracketed their power with timely hits from Greg Vaughn, who opened the scoring with a two-out, RBI triple in the first inning, and starting pitcher Steve Parris, who stroked a bases-loaded single in the sixth.

        The Diamondbacks found themselves embroiled in their 11th extra-inning game, the most in the majors, after Matt Williams' three-run homer off reliever Gabe White capped a four-run rally in the seventh inning that tied the score.

        Williams' 20th homer spoiled a strong outing by Parris, who dodged constant trouble while blanking the Diamondbacks for 6 1/3 innings.

        But the aggravation proved to be worthwhile for the Reds (35-31), who launched this crucial seven-game road trip by posting their 15th victory in their last 19 road games.

        Dmitri Young opened the Reds' 10th with a double to center off Vladimir Nunez (1-1), the Diamondbacks' fourth reliever. Taubensee followed with his seventh homer of the season, a fly that carried 366 feet over the right-field barrier.

        Cincinnati added a run as Aaron Boone drew a one-out walk, stole second base, advanced to third on catcher Damian Miller's throwing error and came home on Pokey Reese's sharp single to right.

Arizona Diamondbacks' Tony Womack is tagged out at home by Reds catcher Eddie Taubensee during the third inning Monday. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        The Reds improved to 2-2 in extra innings while reclaiming the momentum they lost in the seventh.

        The Diamondbacks began their game-tying rally when Parris hit his second batter of the game, pinch hitter Greg Colbrunn, with one out. Tony Womack then doubled to left-center field, scoring Colbrunn.

        After Jay Bell struck out, the Reds opted to play the percentages by bringing left-hander White to face Luis Gonzalez, a left-handed batter. Gonzalez coaxed a walk, prolonging the inning for Williams.

        The resurgent third baseman boosted his league-leading RBI total to 67 by whipping the first pitch he saw from White an estimated 388 feet into the left-field seats. It was Williams' 20th home run, 16 of which have tied the score or put Arizona ahead.

        Parris performed a dangerous high-wire act throughout most of the evening. Arizona stranded seven runners on base in the first five innings, including five in scoring position. Parris left the bases loaded in the fourth inning and received immeasurable assistance from three double plays.

        The Diamondbacks applied frequent pressure.

        With two outs in the first inning, Parris allowed Gonzalez's double and walked Williams on four pitches before Steve Finley lined out to first base.

        Andy Fox singled with two outs in the second inning and moved to second on Vaughn's error before Anderson grounded out.

        With Womack on third, Gonzalez lifted a one-out, third-inning fly ball to short right field. Hammonds gathered himself calmly as he caught the ball and unleashed a strong one-hop throw that arrived at home plate just as Womack began his slide. Taubensee applied a deft tag for the out.

        Parris wiggled out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the fourth by coaxing a pop-up from Fox and inducing Anderson to fly out. Then, with Diamondbacks on the corners in the fifth, Williams hit a soft line drive at first baseman Sean Casey for an inning-ending double play.

        The Reds were less wasteful than Arizona, but they weren't perfect.

        They widened their lead to 4-0 in the sixth when Parris' first-pitch single scored Larkin and foiled the strategy of Arizona manager Buck Showalter, who ordered an intentional walk to Mike Cameron that filled the bases.

        But Darren Holmes relieved Anderson and extinguished the threat by striking out Reese and coaxing a pop-up from Hammonds.

        Reese scored the Reds' first run after he led off the game by singling and stealing second base. He came home on Vaughn's triple, which interrupted the cleanup hitter's 2-for-21 skid.

        Larkin added his homer in the fourth inning, his ninth of the season, before Hammonds clobbered his seventh homer one inning later.

       

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