Thursday, September 30, 1999

Astros 4, Reds 1

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Larkin's error leads to 3 unearned runs

BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Sean Casey reacts after striking out. (AP photos) | ZOOM |

        HOUSTON — After a week of nearly non-stop progress, all the Reds gained Wednesday night was the confirmation that securing a playoff spot will require a working weekend.

        Cincinnati's 4-1 loss to the Houston Astros eliminated any chance of a neat, happy ending to its postseason pursuit in Friday's series opener at Milwaukee.

        The Reds (95-64) fell back into a first-place tie in the National League Central Division with Houston, which received an excellent performance from Cy Young Award candidate Mike Hampton before 52,242 at the Astrodome. Hampton (21-4) allowed seven hits in eight innings and received most of his support in the fourth inning, when shortstop Barry Larkin's throwing error helped generate three unearned runs.

        “Take away that fourth inning, and it was a heck of a game,” Reds manager Jack McKeon said.

The Astros scored three unearned runs off Steve Parris. | ZOOM |

        The end of the Reds' six-game winning streak denied Cincinnati a chance to grab a two-game lead over Houston and relieve some of the pressure heading into Milwaukee, where the Reds will end the regular season with three games.

        Cincinnati also must continue to ponder the New York Mets (93-65), who ended a seven-game losing streak and remained alive for the wild-card spot. Should the Mets defeat Atlanta tonight, they'd trail the Reds and Astros by one game.

        Tension has escalated. But the Reds have thrived in daunting circumstances, having lost no more than three consecutive games all season.

        “We're tough,” McKeon said. “We bounce back pretty well after losses.”

Aaron Boone ponders a strikeout. | ZOOM |

        Splitting this two-game series enabled the Reds to post a 9-4 record this year against the Astros, which will come in handy if both teams finish tied and ahead of the Mets. The head-to-head advantage would give the Reds the division title.

        Having won each of his previous four starts, Steve Parris seemed to be an ideal choice to bring the Reds closer to their first postseason since 1995. It also just so happened that the home-plate umpire was Mark Carlson, Parris' former high school teammate at Joliet (Ill.) West, who also called balls and strikes when the right-hander shut out Pittsburgh on Sept.18.

        Parris (11-3) blanked Houston on two hits through the first three innings, though his vulnerability showed as four batters extended him to 3-2 counts. A fifth Astro, Stan Javier, opened the fourth inning by lining out to center field on another full-count pitch.

        Then the trouble began.

Pokey Reese tags out Eusabio after Greg Vaughn's throw caught him trying for a double. | ZOOM |

        Jeff Bagwell lashed a sharp grounder to deep shortstop. Larkin fielded the ball cleanly but flung the ball over first baseman Sean Casey's head. Carl Everett's double to right field moved Bagwell to third.

        “I think I spun, picked up Casey and just threw it high,” Larkin said. “I don't think I rushed the throw.”

        Second baseman Pokey Reese temporarily saved the Reds with a typically outstanding play. Ken Caminiti hit a low screamer that appeared destined to be a two-run single, but Reese flung himself to his left, speared the ball on one hop with his left arm fully outstretched and threw out Caminiti. Bagwell scored while Everett held at third base, briefly saving a run.

        Briefly, as in four pitches. Rookie Daryle Ward launched Parris' 1-2 delivery over the right-field barrier for his eighth homer.

        Otherwise, the game mostly belonged to Hampton, who stranded five Reds in scoring position while matching Joe Niekro's 1979 single-season franchise record for victories.

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