Friday, July 23, 1999

CARDINALS 6, REDS 5

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Bullpen lately digging graves

BY JOHN FAY
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Mark McGwire hits his first Cinergy Field HR. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        The Reds' bullpen still may be the best in baseball, statistically speaking. But lately, in the only stat that matters — wins and losses — the 'pen hasn't been so mighty.

        Danny Graves gave up three runs on two home runs in the ninth inning Thursday in the Reds' 6-5 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. The blown save ruined a masterful pitching performance by Brett Tomko on a day when the temperature on the turf at Cinergy hit 150 degrees.

        The bullpen took three losses in the homestand, which the Reds ended 4-4. It was the fourth time in 13 games that Graves or Scott Williamson blew a save opportunity to ninth-inning home runs. Graves and Williamson have blown 10 of 36 saves attempts.

        “That's the way it is with the bullpen,” Graves said. “When we have our one or two bad games, they cost the team a win.”

Brett Tomko allowed only two hits in eight innings. (Tony Jones photo) | ZOOM |

        It was one very big win Thursday. It was the difference between a 4-4 and a 5-3 homestand. It would have meant going on the seven-day trip percentage points ahead of the Houston Astros in the National League Central instead of one game behind.

        Tomko gave up three runs in the first inning and then pitched brilliantly the rest of way. He retired 22 of his final 23 batters, including the last 16.

        “He pitched his butt off,” McKeon said.

        Tomko allowed only two hits — both in the first — struck out 10 to equal a career high and walked just one.

        But McKeon pulled him after eight innings.

        “He was out of gas,” McKeon said. “He couldn't pitch anymore.”

Barry Larkin dives back to first on a pickoff throw. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

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        Tomko, who was clearly upset when McKeon took him out after 8 2/3 innings Saturday, had less of an argument this time.

        “I was pretty spent,” he said. “I could barely make it into the clubhouse.”

        Tomko was given two bags of fluid intravenously after the game.

        “I could have gone out there,” he said. “But I might not be standing here talking right now.”

        Tomko's only problems came in the first. He walked leadoff man J.D. Drew, who stole second. Tomko got out Willie McGee and Mark McGwire, but Ray Lankford singled to score Drew.

        Fernando Tatis followed with a home run to make it 3-0. But Tomko got the final out of the inning. McGwire, who later got on via Aaron Boone's error, would be the only other runner to reach off Tomko.

        The Reds, as usual, came back. Dmitri Young's homer, his fifth, made it 3-1 in the first. Mike Cameron tied it with a two-run home run in the third, his 11th. Then Boone made it 5-3 with a ball that barely cleared the fence in right in the eighth for his fifth home run. The Reds were three outs from a win.

        McKeon did not hesitate to call on Graves (6-5).

        Graves got McGee on a groundout.

        Then McGwire got under one.

        “I thought it was a pop fly,” McKeon said. “But the ball flies out of here on a day like today.”

        McGwire just cleared the fence in right for an a rare opposite-field home run, his 33rd homer of the year. (He had 43 at this time last year.)

        Lankford, a 10-year veteran who is hitting .311 this year, was up next. He showed experience pays.

        “I threw him some good pitches,” Graves said. “But he kept fouling them off. He worked the count 3-2, then punched the ball the other way.”

        That brought up Tatis.

        “I was trying to get a ground ball for a double play,” Graves said. “I was trying to throw a sinker with good action on it. But it was a high sinker. He did what he's supposed to do. You can't throw a high sinker to a home run hitter.”

        Tatis crushed it to left-center field for his 23rd home run of the year.

        The Reds loaded the bases in the ninth with three two-out walks, but they couldn't get the tying run home.

        And the bullpen had another loss.

        “That happens to every ballclub,” McKeon said. “It's the best bullpen in the league, but it's not perfect.”

        Thursday's loss was strikingly similar to the game Williamson let get away five days ago. Williamson entered in the ninth, trying to protect a 2-0 Tomko lead. He couldn't. Just like Graves couldn't Thursday. Two differences: The lead Thursday was 5-3, and the Reds didn't bounce back this time.

       

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