Monday, September 13, 1999
REDS NOTEBOOK
Vaughn's two RBI brings total to 100
The Reds managed to score 11 runs without homering. That was partly because Greg Vaughn was around.
Vaughn drove in two runs with a sacrifice fly and a single, increasing his RBI total to 100 in the Reds' 11-5 victory over Florida. It marked the third time in his career and second year in a row that Vaughn had reached triple digits.
As he has done since his first day in a Reds uniform in spring training, Vaughn emphasized team success, even when discussing his personal milestone.
“If you just play to win, the other things will take care of themselves,” he said. “I bring attitude. I bring wins. That's what I'm all about.”
Vaughn became the first Red to collect 100 RBI since Eric Davis had 101 in 1989.
Eight's enough
Ron Villone struck out a career-high eight batters in his six innings. He fanned a pair of Marlins in the first inning, added two more in the third, recorded one in the fourth and struck out the side in the fifth.
“Physically, I got stronger as the game went on,” said Villone (8-6).
Villone encountered trouble in the third when Florida scored twice and prompted relievers Scott Sullivan and Brett Tomko to warm up. In the middle of that inning, pitching coach Don Gullett had a message for Villone: Be aggressive.
“Right after that I said, forget it, I'm just going to throw a lot of fastballs,” Villone said. “I'd say four out of five, five out of six pitches were fastballs the rest of the game. I don't know if they were sitting on off-speed pitches or not, but a couple of times they would swing through fastballs I threw down the middle.”
On a roll
Chris Stynes has been hot — well, at least as hot as a player who plays once or twice a week can be.
Stynes replaced Pokey Reese, who left the game after an inning with back spasms, and went 3-for-4 with three runs scored. Stynes has eight hits and a sacrifice bunt in his last 13 plate appearances, dating back to Aug.17. He has lifted his batting average from .087 to .229 since late July, which isn't easy to do with sporadic playing time.
“It's not something that's important,” Stynes said. “We're in a pennant race right now. Whatever you can do on any day to win, that's really all that counts.”
Career days
Aaron Boone tied a career high with four RBI, stroking two-run singles in the fifth and sixth innings.
“He's probably one of the most improved players on the club,” manager Jack McKeon said of Boone, who has eight homers and 30 RBI in his last 24 games.
Barry Larkin, who singled and drew three walks, also equaled a personal best by scoring four runs. Larkin's 76 walks are three off last year's total.
Sole exception
Barring injuries, the only position where McKeon will alternate players in the lineup through the rest of the season is catcher.
With a day game following a night game Sunday, Jason LaRue replaced Eddie Taubensee, who may again get intermittent breaks, especially when the Reds face a left-handed starter.
“He's better if he gets a day off once in a while,” McKeon said of Taubensee, who has reached career highs in homers (19) and RBI (74). Hitting .307, Taubensee also has a chance to become the first Reds catcher to bat .300 since Ed Bailey in 1956.
Gate crashing
Since Sunday's crowd was another small one — 20,363, including huge clumps of empty blue and green seats — the Reds may have to wait until Tuesday's series opener against Chicago to surpass their 1998 attendance total of 1,793,679. Today's 12:35 p.m. matinee against Florida doesn't figure to lure droves of people to Cinergy Field.
With eight home dates remaining, Cincinnati has drawn 1,774,757, an average of 24,312. That puts the Reds on pace to finish with 1,969,272 in paid attendance, their highest total since 1993 (2,453,232).
Up next
Steve Parris (8-2) will try to help the Reds sweep the Marlins this afternoon when he opposes right-hander Brian Meadows (11-14).
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