Happy teammates greet Aaron Boone as he touches the plate. (Ernest Coleman photo) | ZOOM |

        Jack McKeon called Aaron Boone “unsung.” Danny Graves referred to him as “overlooked.” At this rate, neither term will suit Boone much longer.

        Continuing to succeed in crucial situations, the Reds third baseman belted a first-pitch home run off Dan Miceli leading off Friday night's ninth inning, shattering a 2-2 tie and giving the Reds a 3-2 victory over the Florida Marlins.

        The outcome wasn't necessarily unique. Florida, which has lost eight consecutive games overall, has dropped 11 in a row at Cinergy Field since the 1998 season.

        But nothing was stale about Boone's homer from the Reds' perspective. Cincinnati's third victory in four games trimmed its Central Division deficit to one game behind first-place St. Louis. Players celebrated the triumphant start of their season-high, 12-game homestand by meeting Boone at home plate for their now-familiar “bounce” as many in the crowd of 33,018 chanted Boone's name.

Dmitri Young waves a towel to greet Boone. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

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        It's a name that's becoming synonymous with late-inning glory.

        Boone also ended an 11-9 victory over San Diego on May 11 with a two-run homer off Matt Whisenant. He influenced several games last year, his first full season in the majors, in similar fashion.

        Boone has maintained his progress while batting seventh or eighth in 34 of his 45 starts and facing the challenges that confront all young major-leaguers.

        “He has made himself a clutch performer,” said McKeon, the Reds manager. “He has adjusted really well to the pitchers in the league. The guy's a gamer. He plays hard. He's a leader.”

Boone acknowledges cheers. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        “He's confident in himself and the rest of us are as well,” said Graves, who worked the ninth inning and became the first Reds pitcher to start a season 7-0 since Ron Robinson in 1986. “Both defensively and offensively, he has picked us up a lot. I think the extra year of experience helps his confidence. He's not up there playing just to make contact. He's playing to hit the ball hard, and he's a lot more aggressive.”

        Boone took that approach when he opened the ninth against Miceli (3-2).

        “I was actually thinking about taking a pitch,” said Boone, who lofted his ninth homer of the season over the left-center field fence. “My previous at-bat (a seventh-inning pop-up) I kind of swung at a bad pitch. Then I just kind of said, "Get a good pitch and try to put a good swing on it.' Fortunately, I got enough of it.”

        The Reds had trouble figuring out Marlins pitching after Barry Larkin stroked a two-run, first-inning homer off left-hander Jesus Sanchez. They mustered just six singles off Sanchez and two relievers until Boone connected.

Boone gets high-fives from the grounds crew. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

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        Though Reds starter Ron Villone couldn't extend his career-high four-game winning streak, he pitched 6 1/3 capable innings, allowing both of Florida's runs and seven hits while walking three and striking out four.

        Scott Williamson coaxed a double-play grounder from Danny Bautista to rescue the Reds from a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the seventh inning and added a scoreless eighth.

        “When you have "Willie' and "Grav'y down there, you feel good about your chances,” Boone said. “I think that raises our level late in ballgames.”

        It worked for Boone.

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