Monday, September 13, 1999

REDS 11, MARLINS 5

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Reese, Young hurt in 6th straight win; still 3 games back

BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Barry Larkin dives to beat the throw to Chris Clapinski. (Saed Hindash photos) | ZOOM |

        The only factor that seemingly can impede the Reds' march to the postseason — besides Houston and New York matching them win for win — tapped them on the shoulder Sunday afternoon at Cinergy Field.

        The Reds were reminded of the ever-present danger of injuries while again thrashing the Florida Marlins 11-5 as second baseman Pokey Reese (back spasms) and right fielder Dmitri Young (tight left hamstring) left the game early.

        Neither injury is considered serious. But the Reds (85-58), who have won six games in a row and nine of their last 10, cannot afford any interruption in their momentum. They still trail Houston, which owns a 10-game winning streak, by three games in the National League Central Division. They were two games behind New York, the wild-card leader, pending the Mets-Dodgers result later Sunday.

Sean Casey reacts in the dugout after hitting a fly-out. | ZOOM |

Arizona and Atlanta, leaders of the West and East divisions, respectively, have virtually assured themselves of reaching the postseason. Meanwhile, the Reds, Astros and Mets are giving everybody else a pretty good show. The Reds, said Florida manager John Boles, has distinguished themselves in this high-flying act.

        “There's going to be one really good team that doesn't make it,” Boles said. “If you ask me who's going to be in the World Series as the National League team, you're just flipping a coin. Anybody can do it this year, including these guys (the Reds). I like everything about these guys. I keep looking for something that they lack. Now that they've shored up their rotation, they're really legitimate.”

        But the Reds, who have survived recent injuries to center fielder Mike Cameron (hamstring) and reliever Danny Graves (bruised left knee), wouldn't be the same without Reese or Young.

        Reese has made significant offensive contributions despite an 0-for-16 slump, and his remarkable defense has

Greg Vaughn gets a hit. | ZOOM |

        become a given. Before Sunday, Young had a five-game hitting streak and was batting .405 in his previous nine games.

        Manager Jack McKeon said he was fully prepared to rest Reese in today's series finale against Florida if he complained of any discomfort. McKeon knew that Reese's back had been troubling him, but nobody expected the pain to escalate.

        “It's been bothering me for a long time. Maybe two weeks,” Reese said. “Hopefully it'll feel better in the morning.”

        Reese left the game after just an inning, grounding out to shortstop in his lone at-bat. In the Marlins' half of the first, Reese had ranged to his right in pursuit of Cliff Floyd's two-out single off winning pitcher Ron Villone (8-6).

        “On that ground ball up the middle, I bent over for it and it didn't feel too good,” Reese said.

        He felt no better at the plate.

Ron Villone throws to first in an attempt to get an out. | ZOOM |

        “It wasn't a good swing,” Reese said. “Then, when I broke out of the box, I kind of felt it.”

        Reese notified McKeon, who wasted no time in removing him. “It was really bothering him today,” McKeon said. “He doesn't come to you if he's not really hurt. I didn't think he was running really well.”

        Young departed in the fifth inning after advancing from first base to third on the first of Aaron Boone's two two-run singles. His hamstring actually nagged him much earlier.

        “I felt it all day,” Young said. “It was one of those things where you wake up and say, "Oh, man.'”

        Young insisted he could play with his ailment, which he proved for half the game. But hamstring injuries typically require caution. As Young said, “I don't want to do anything where, the next thing you know, I'm sitting on the bench watching the rest of the games.”

        Echoing Barry Larkin, Sean Casey and other teammates, Young also delivered a verbal memo to Reds management regarding the playing surface: “It would be nice to have some grass.”

        Even without Reese and Young, Cincinnati cruised past the Marlins, who committed three errors and handled other plays tentatively. Chris Stynes embodied the Reds' effort by replacing Reese and going 3-for-4 with three runs scored.

        “Everybody's feeling good about themselves,” Villone said. “It's kind of contagious. If one guy's not having a good day, everybody's picking each other up. You see it on the bench, on the field and in the clubhouse. I think that has a lot more to do with winning than people realize.”

       

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