Sunday, October 03, 1999

WIN OR ELSE

---

Reds' victory would guarantee wild-card playoff

BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Barry Larkin and teammates show their anguish during the ninth inning. (Michael E. Keating photos) | ZOOM |

        MILWAUKEE — After 160 games, 45 come-from-behind wins, two owners and a September surge, the Reds' season rests on the outcomes of today's games.

        A victory today against the Milwaukee Brewers would assure the small-market Reds, who were widely picked to finish near the bottom of the NL Central Division, of at least a one-game playoff Monday in Cinergy Field. The winner would advance to the Divsion Series.

        A loss today and the Reds would need a loss from the Mets to extend their season.

        “Our guys are going to have to be hungry for (today),” left fielder Greg Vaughn said. “I mean, this is it. Every single guy in here has to play like it's our last game ever.”

THE BIG IF...

Final-day scenarios:   • IF REDS WIN, ASTROS LOSE, METS LOSE: Reds win Central Division. Astros win wild-card.   • IF REDS WIN, ASTROS LOSE, METS WIN: Reds and Astros hold playoff at 2:05 p.m. Monday at Cinergy Field for Central Division title. Mets win wild-card.   • IF ALL 3 WIN: Reds and Mets hold playoff at 2:05 p.m. Monday at Cinergy Field for wild-card. Astros win Central Division.   • IF REDS LOSE, METS LOSE: Reds and Mets hold playoff at 2:05 p.m. Monday at Cinergy Field for wild-card. Astros win Central Division.   • IF REDS LOSE, METS WIN: Reds go home. Mets win wild-card. Astros win Central Division.

        The Reds enter the season's final regular-season on a three-game losing streak after a 10-6 loss to the Brewers on Saturday. A win in any one of those games would have already guaranteed a one-game playoff and meant a victory today would clinch a playoff berth.

        “You don't fear it,” Cincinnati catcher Ed Taubensee said of today's must-win game. “It's not like a disease. It's not contagious.”

        The last time the Reds entered the season's final day needing a victory to reach the postseason was 1964. The Reds lost to Philadelphia 10-0, enabling St. Louis to capture the NL pennant.

        The Reds will start Pete Harnisch, who pitched the team's last victory. Harnisch allowed only four hits and one run in eight innings of a 4-1 win over the Astros on Tuesday. He has known since the All-Star break that his right shoulder needs surgery but has pitched through the pain. Harnisch, who is 15-10 with a 3.78 ERA, struggled in early September but responded in his last start to extra time off.

Eddie Taubensee consoles Scott Sullivan after Sullivan was roughed up in the ninth. | ZOOM |

        Because their pitching plans were scrambled by a rainout Tuesday, the Brewers are giving Cal Eldred his first start since Sept.7. Eldred is 2-7 this season with a 7,60 ERA; he's 1-0 in his last three starts with a 4.80 ERA.

        “All you can do with three teams going at it is take care of yourself,” Reds first baseman Sean Casey said.

        “That's what we're trying to do. We're in a predicament now where we have to win (today). That's what we're going to have to do, and hopefully get help. A couple of days ago the ball was in our court. Now it's not.”

        No, it's not. It's advantage, Houston. The Astros took a one-game lead in the Central Division with a 3-0 victory over the Dodgers on Saturday after the Reds lost.

        The Mets, who are tied with the Reds in the wild-card standings, were the last team to play Saturday.

        “I think the Reds have been really hot and it's time for them to be cold,” Mets manager Bobby Valentine said soon after the Reds had lost. “I don't know what they're feeling. They're hot. They're a good team.”

        The Mets will send Orel Hershiser against Kris Benson today. The Astros will start Scott Elarton against against the Dodgers' Robinson Checo.

        But the Reds aren't worrying about those game yet; they've got the Brewers to think about.

        “They're going to come at us hard again (today),” Vaughn said. “But it has taken everybody in this room to get here. It's not over. We just have to find a way to play better baseball. I have confidence in every single guy in here.”

        (Contributing: The Associated Press, Chicago Tribune and New York Daily News)

---

Reds Stories

WIN OR ELSE Harnisch carries hopes on final day Vindication or villification? Brewers 10, Reds 6 Box, runs Mets 7, Pirates 0 Astros 3, Dodgers 0 Dodgers doing Reds no favors Ticket info for Monday playoff

What's good for century is good for Hall

Reds page