This stage of the season isn't early. It's embryonic.

Pokey Reese is tagged out by Brewer's Mark Loretta after a run-down between first and second. | ZOOM |

        This fact prevented the Reds from gnashing their teeth over Wednesday night's 8-5 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, which would have been galling under most circumstances.

        The Reds stranded 11 baserunners while hitting 2-for-16 with men in scoring position, bringing their season total in those situations to 3-for-26 (.115).

        The Reds lost their second game in a row despite outhitting the Brewers 13-10, with Pokey Reese and Eddie Taubensee collecting four hits apiece. It marked the first time since July 16, 1991, that two Reds each had four hits in defeat. Hal Morris and Chris Sabo were the futile stars that day in an 8-7 setback against St.Louis.

        A nagging question arose: Are the Reds bound for another slow start? They haven't posted a winning record in April since 1994 (15-7). Since then, they were 0-5 in strike-shortened 1995, 9-16 in 1996, 7-18 in 1997, 12-14 in 1998 and 9-12 last year.

        Asked if he and his teammates felt any sense of urgency, Reese seemed genuinely amazed.

        “For what? It's early — two games into the season,” he said.

        Overhearing the interrogation from an adjacent locker, first baseman-outfielder Dmitri Young was aghast.

Barry Larkin tries to tag Brewer's baserunner Geoff Jenkins in the fourth inning. | ZOOM |

        “Urgency? Who asked that?” Young said. “It would be different if it were 16 games.”

        Young addressed some other issues before murmuring, “I'm still tripping over "urgency.'”

        Reds manager Jack McKeon avoided dwelling on unpleasant subjects, pointing out that his players roused themselves offensively after entering the game with a collective .180 average (9-for-50).

        “Tonight we did see some light at the end of the tunnel,” McKeon said. “There's no need to panic at this time. They're good hitters. They'll be all right.”

        The Reds attributed their trouble with runners in scoring position to Milwaukee's relievers, who have fired 7ô shutout innings.

        “Their pitchers have been mowing down our hitters,” McKeon said.

        “We have to tip our caps to their bullpen,” Young said.

        While Dante Bichette homered and singled to collect his first hits as a Red, Ken Griffey Jr. went 0-for-4 to remain hitless in 10 at-bats. Griffey did drive in his first run with a grounder to first in the fifth.

        McKeon refused to say that Griffey was trying too hard, though he remarked, “I'm quite sure he wants to do well in front of the home folks. Sometimes you just have to relax and have fun.”

        Third baseman Aaron Boone also struggled, enduring an 0-for-5 evening to match Griffey's 0-for-10 for the brief season. Boone flied out with two runners aboard in the fourth inning and popped up with Taubensee on second in the sixth inning, when the Reds chipped away at Milwaukee's 7-2 lead by scoring three runs.

        One inning later, facing reliever David Weathers with one out, runners on second and third and the Reds trailing 7-5, Boone fouled out to first base.

        Boone believed his swing was only mildly flawed.

        “That's the thing that's frustrating about tonight. I'm recognizing pitches really well, not really chasing them,” Boone said. “You want to cash in for the boys when you get opportunities like that. I'll get them tomorrow.”

        Reds starter Steve Parris (0-1) must wait a little longer for his next chance. Parris initially looked smooth, despite surrendering Kevin Barker's third-inning home run that opened the scoring, but departed after yielding two runs in each of the next two innings.

        Parris doomed himself in the third inning by fielding Tyler Houston's comebacker and making a wide throw to shortstop Barry Larkin, who was covering second base. This prevented an inning-ending double play and generated a Milwaukee run.

        “That was stupid, a boneheaded mistake right there,” Parris said.

        Assuming the Reds are in peril is a worse mistake. But maybe it's safer to say that the Brewers won't be the National League Central pushovers that alleged experts considered them to be.

        “You have to give credit to Davey Lopes for giving their guys attitudes,” said Young, referring to Milwaukee's new manager. “They're showing they can hang with the big boys.”

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