Wednesday, September 08, 1999
Vaughn takes out frustration
Follows weak Game 1 with three homers
BY JOHN FAY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
CHICAGO — Greg Vaughn would have traded two of his home runs in Game 2 of Tuesday's doubleheader for one in Game 1.
Vaughn set a personal record and tied a Reds mark with three home runs in the Reds' 10-3 blowout in the nightcap.
The New Murderers Row pounded out six home runs in all to give the Reds 24 home runs in the last seven games.
None of the 24 came in the 2-1 loss in the first game.
Vaughn had a particularly tough game in the opener. He was 0-for-4 and struck out twice, including the game-ender with the tying run at first base
“I tried not to get too frustrated,” Vaughn said. “I thought I was right on the ball a couple of times the first game. But it was big for us to come back and get the split.”
The three home runs gave Vaughn 34, the most by a Red since Eric Davis hit 34 in 1989.
Vaughn's first shot, off Brian McNichol in his big-league debut, was the longest. The two-run shot came within a few feet of landing on the roof of a building on Waveland Avenue.
It put the Reds up 4-0 and set the tone for the game.
“You've got to polish off those pitchers they bring up from Triple-A early,” Reds manager Jack McKeon said.
Vaughn added another two-run homer in the sixth and a solo shot in the seventh.
“It feels good to contribute,” Vaughn said. “That's what I'm concerned: putting up Ws.”
Vaughn became the second Red this year to hit three homers in a game. Jeffrey Hammonds did it against Colorado in Denver May 19.
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