Sunday, July 04, 1999

REDS 10, ASTROS 0

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Vaughn finally joins the hit parade

BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Pete Harnisch is congratulated by Aaron Boone after they scored on a single. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        If the Reds are to remain in the NL Central race for the long haul, Greg Vaughn must be part of the ride.

        The left fielder, blessed with few hits and less luck during Cincinnati's recent surge, indicated that he's poised to contribute more by getting a pair of run-scoring hits in the Reds' 10-0 rout Saturday night over the Houston Astros.

        The Reds' 13th victory in their last 16 games widened their division lead over second-place Houston (45-34) to one full game. Cincinnati (45-32) also improved to 4-1 on this homestand and 7-2 this year against the Astros.

        Another energized crowd of 34,168, which included nearly 10,000 day-of-game sales and 6,000 patrons who bought tickets after Cinergy Field's gates opened, watched Pete Harnisch and Dennys Reyes combine on a five-hitter that gave the Reds a major-league high eight shutouts. The Astros have suffered two of those, their only shutout defeats of the season.

        “It's nice to have the fan support,” said Vaughn, who singled in the fourth inning and doubled in the fifth. “I was talking on the bench to a few other players and I said that it was always easy to come in here and play when I was with the Padres because there really wasn't any environment. It seems like now the city's starting to get excited a little bit.”

Michael Tucker dives for third, but he wasn't fast enough to beat the throw. (Thomas E. Witte photo) | ZOOM |

        Harnisch (8-6) surrendered four hits and walked just one in six innings while participating in his fifth shutout. Reyes qualified for his first save in six professional seasons by pitching the last three innings.

        “It was all right — about what I expected,” Harnisch said of his shoulder. “No better, no worse.”

        The Reds opened the scoring with a pair of fourth-inning runs against Astros starter Scott Elarton (5-3), a converted reliever who left the game after reaching 52 pitches.

        Then they scored six runs in the fifth off right-hander Brian Williams. It was the Reds biggest single-inning output since scoring a season-high seven in the third inning on June 6 at Kansas City. All of the runs scored with two outs.

        Fittingly, Vaughn took part in both rallies by recording his first two-hit game since June18.

        The cleanup hitter is on pace to finish with 36 homers and 99 RBI, which would fall short of his 1998 output for San Diego (50, 119) yet command respect. His presence in the lineup has spared Sean Casey, Barry Larkin and others from dwelling excessively on hitting for power. He also has provided competent defense and smart baserunning.

        Still, Vaughn had endured 7-for-60 tailspin entering the game, which dropped his average from .240 to .210.

        So it was refreshing when he followed Casey's RBI double in the fourth inning with a single to left. Vaughn's fifth-inning double was hit harder still, and his line-drive out one inning later nearly pinned left fielder Matt Mieske's hand against the wall.

        Manager Jack McKeon reinforced the perception that Vaughn has piled up more than his share of hard-hit outs.

        “Greg has been swinging the bat well lately. He just hasn't gotten any breaks,” McKeon said. “The last club we played (Arizona) looked like they had 12 infielders at times. Hopefully tonight will be the thing to get him started, get him lucky. Because he certainly has hit the ball hard.”

        With a touch of sarcasm, Vaughn reacted to seeing a pair of hits actually fall in for him as “a shocker.”

Mike Cameron sprints down the first base line during his 5th inning double. (Thomas E. Witte photo) | ZOOM |

        Said Vaughn, “I've been pleased with the way I've been swinging. I'm not going to change anything. I'm just going to keep hitting it hard, hopefully the ball will start to bounce my way ... and I can start contributing on an everyday basis.”

        Mike Cameron, who left the game after six innings with a bruised right hip, played a significant role in the big fifth by doubling to right field to open the inning and adding an RBI single for its final run.

        Houston third baseman Bill Spiers' throwing error on Harnisch's sacrifice bunt attempt put runners in scoring position for Michael Tucker's bloop double to left field. Vaughn's double scored Tucker after Williams intentionally walked Casey.

        Larkin then doubled into the right-field corner, scoring Casey and Vaughn.

       

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