Monday, March 13, 2000

REDS NOTEBOOK

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Villone goes solid five

BY TOM BALOG
Enquirer contributor

Pirates baserunner Bruce Aven makes it into third safely after knocking the ball loose during his slide. (AP photos) | ZOOM |

        Reds left-hander Ron Villone became the first Reds starter to go five innings Sunday in a 2-1 loss to Pittsburgh.

        Villone allowed one run on six hits and received his third no-decision in three starts.

        Both Pirates runs resulted from the wind playing tricks with the ball.

        Kevin Young's leadoff double to left field in the fourth could have been scored an error on left fielder Dmitri Young. He got a glove on the ball, but dropped it as he backpedalled in front of the wall. Kevin Young later scored on an RBI single by Bruce Aven.

        “The ball to left field was the difference in the game,” said Reds manager Jack McKeon.

        “We'll win most of those (games), if we stay close,” McKeon said. “That's the way we played last year. Just keep us within distance, we'll get something going.

        “If we had (Sean) Casey and (Pokey) Reese and some of the others in the lineup, it's a different ballgame.”

        Casey stayed behind in Sara sota after playing in a minor league game Sunday morning.

        Reese took batting practice Sunday. He will do the same today and McKeon said he should be ready to play Tuesday. Reese's jammed ring finger on his right hand from the spring opener is apparently healed.

        SHORT HOPS: Unlike Saturday night's three-hour game, Sunday's game was nearly an hour shorter, lasting only two hours and 11 minutes ... It was Pittsburgh's third win in as many games against the Reds this spring ... The game at McKechnie Field was sold out, marking the third straight sellout the Reds have played. They are one of the hottest tickets in the Grapefruit League, along with the Yankees.

       

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