Rob Bell struck out nine. (Jeff Swinger photo) | ZOOM |

        A new player helped the Reds reclaim their old zest. Starting pitcher Rob Bell didn't figure in Saturday's decision as the Reds outlasted the Chicago Cubs, 4-3, in 11 innings. But the right-hander directly influenced the outcome and may have pointed Cincinnati, which had lost three of its first four games, in the right direc tion.

        Bell excelled in his major league debut by striking out nine Cubs in seven innings while allowing three hits and three runs — including just one earned run. The 23-year-old retired the final 16 batters he faced and combined with relievers Scott Wil liamson and Danny Graves (1-0) to hold Chicago hitless from the third through 10th innings.

        “My game is not to nibble on the corners,” said Bell, 23. “I settled down and went after them aggressively.”

        That pitching enabled the Reds to overcome a 3-1 deficit with homers by Aaron Boone and Dante Bichette. Pokey Reese, the steadiest Red, finally ended the three-hour, 41-minute marathon in the 11th with a two-out smash off third baseman Jeff Huson's glove that scored Alex Ochoa.

Pokey Reese is greeted by teammates after his winning hit. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

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        The victory recalled many of the Reds' finer triumphs from last year's 96-win campaign. They came from behind, their resolute pitching yielded only four hits and their spirit stayed buoyant. Though many of Cincinnati's key players from 1999 remain on the team, no less an observer than team captain Barry Larkin, the 13-year veteran shortstop, cited Bell as the source of Saturday's renaissance.

        “He's aggressive, man. Aggressive, aggressive, aggressive,” Larkin said of Bell, who threw 63 strikes in 91 pitches. “That was good to see. It's not the same guy I saw in spring training. The guy I saw in spring training wasn't really sure if he was supposed to be there, wasn't really sure of his stuff.

        “The guy I saw today was going after guys. Hopefully some people sitting on the bench can learn from that, both pitchers and position players. It's an attitude. It's a presence we can bring to the yard. He brought it today.”

        Both teams had to conquer the elements.

Barry Larkin (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        Gametime temperature at Cinergy Field was 37 degrees with a wind-chill factor of 18 degrees. Gusty winds blew as high as 28 mph. Barely more than half of the 37,151 ticket-buyers actually came to the park.

        To emerge from the icebox with a victory, said Reds first baseman Dmitri Young, was a “character builder.” Added Young, “The conditions were horrible. We had to fight that the whole time, on top of trying to get to the Cubs' pitching.”

        Larkin used a closely related term — “confidence booster” — and followed that with a sharp observation.

        “I think one of the things that's lacking in here is the confidence. You can see that by the mistakes we're making out there. And we are making quite a bit.”

        Those faults were evident against the Cubs.

Aaron Boone gets hit by pitch (Steven M. Herppich photo) | ZOOM |

        Young misplayed Ricky Gutierrez's simple bunt that helped generate Chicago's two first-inning runs and almost ruined Bell's afternoon. Unfamiliar with Bell, who he said he hadn't caught since an early-March intrasquad game, Eddie Taubensee committed three passed balls.

        Ken Griffey Jr. singled to drive in a first-inning run and walked in his second plate appearance before striking out in his next three at-bats. The center fielder has driven in runs in four consecutive games, though he's hitting .091 (2-for-22).

        But Bichette, who entered the game hitting .105 (2-for-19), roused himself by rapping three hits, including his sixth-inning homer that tied the score. Cincinnati stranded runners on second base in the seventh and eighth innings before breaking through in the 11th.

        Mark Guthrie (0-1) walked Ochoa with one out after retiring seven consecutive Reds. Aaron Boone drew an intentional walk after Ochoa stole second base. Guthrie's wild pitch advanced them, but pinch hitter Benito Santiago struck out.

Reese celebrates with manager Jack McKeon and pitching coach Don Gullett. (Steven M. Herppich photo) | ZOOM |

        Up came Reese, the only Red to hit safely in every game. Despite the uneven production from Griffey and Bichette, Reese has credited them for his success, since their looming presence in the batting order forces pitchers to feed him more strikes. “I'm getting a lot of fastballs and making the most of them,” said Reese, whose 2-for-6 afternoon actually dropped his average to .440 (11-for-25).

        Facing right-hander Matt Karchner, who allowed two runs and three hits in 1ö innings Friday, Reese worked the count to 3-1 before lining a one-hopper toward third. “I was just trying to put good wood on it,” Reese said.

        Huson got his glove on the smash but couldn't hold on as the ball trickled away and Ochoa scored.

        “We should feel good about all of our guys,” said Larkin, “that we can scratch and claw and pull out a win.”

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