Ron Villone wears a scowl during the Giants' two-run first inning. (Steven M. Herppich photo) | ZOOM |

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        Though managers are conditioned to think ahead a few innings, the Reds' Jack McKeon experienced some unpleasant flashbacks during Tuesday night's 13-9 loss to the San Francisco Giants.

        “It reminded me of last year's first three games,” McKeon said, citing the Giants' sweep in which the Reds squandered leads in each game. “A lot of runs, a lot of walks, a lot of mistakes and opportunities.”

        That series proved to be an aberration, as the Reds proceeded to win 96 games. They must hope that their latest effort is another oddball reject, something to be tossed aside and not given a second thought.

        Ultra-serious observers who attempt to read significance into each game will point out that the Reds' relievers own a 6.16 ERA, clashing with their strong efforts in the previous two games and their 3.36 ERA that led the majors last year. The bullpen's failings nullified the 8-4 lead Cincinnati built with a seven-run third inning. Fittingly enough, all six relievers appeared, though Scott Williamson (1-2) lost, largely because he walked five of his 11 batters.

        “You get those seven runs, you have to hold them,” an unforgiving McKeon said. “A four-run lead, you have to hold them.”

Ken Griffey Jr. slides around Doug Mirabelli to score on a sac fly in the third. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        But mostly, this was a forgettable game in which numerous blemishes pockmarked the action. It featured 16 walks, five errors, three wild pitches, two hit batters (Aaron Boone twice, actually) and one passed ball. Of the 16 hitters that walked, 10 scored. Often, it's best not to take such debacles too seriously — unless they're repeated, of course.

        “It was like a total team effort in ugliness tonight,” Reds catcher Eddie Taubensee said.

        Second baseman Pokey Reese echoed his teammate. “Aaron Boone and I were talking late in the game and we said that this was the ugliest game we ever played in,” Reese said.

        Barry Bonds' latest milestone provided the lone sublime moment as the Giants ended a seven-game losing streak. The San Francisco slugger belted his 29th Cinergy Field home run, tying Philadelphia Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt's stadium record for an opposing player. Bonds also scored five runs, matching a personal best.

Pokey Reese appeals after being called out stealing in the fifth. (Steven M. Herppich photo) | ZOOM |

        Symmetry suggests neatness, but the only balance in this three-hour, 51-minute affair was the wrong kind. Each starting pitcher lasted 2ö innings. Both teams batted around once.

        “I guess I kind of set the tone of an ugly game,” said Reds starter Ron Villone, who allowed four runs (three earned) and eight hits in his brief stint.

        He had plenty of help. The Reds' big third inning featured only two hits, Barry Larkin's three-run double and Boone's RBI single. It featured two egregious Giants fielding errors and four walks from San Francisco starter Joe Nathan. Every run except one was unearned.

        It marked the most runs the Reds have scored in an inning this season. On this night, it wasn't enough.

        The Giants nicked Reds reliever Manny Aybar for a fifth-inning run as Bonds walked, Jeff Kent singled and Ellis Burks singled off Boone's glove. The ball trickled into short left field, enabling Bonds to score and trim Cincinnati's lead to 8-5.

        San Francisco batted around in the sixth while scoring four runs to surge ahead 9-8. Every run but one, Doug Mirabelli's second of two homers, was scored with two outs.

Manny Aybar gets the hook from Don Gullett. (Steven M. Herppich photo) | ZOOM |

        Williamson, fresh off three effective outings in a row, walked Kent to load the bases. Burks poked a first-pitch single into right field, delivering Russ Davis and Bonds while Kent moved to third. Rich Aurilia and J.T. Snow walked, the latter forcing in the go-ahead run.

        San Francisco added a run in the seventh as Williamson's poor control continued. With one out, Calvin Murray beat out an infield single before Bill Mueller and Bonds walked, loading the bases. Kent struck out, but Williamson's 0-2 delivery to Burks flew high, outside and off Taubensee's glove for a wild pitch that scored Murray.

        The Reds narrowed the difference to 10-9 in the eighth against Giants reliever John Johnstone as Larkin walked, stole second, moved to third on Griffey's fly out and scored on Taubensee's ground out.

        But the Giants notched three runs against Hector Mercado and Danny Graves in the ninth.

        “It's going to happen once in a while,” McKeon said, summarizing matters. “Hopefully it won't happen too often.”

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