Teammates greet Ken Griffey Jr. after his 3-run HR. (AP photos) | ZOOM |

        CHICAGO — Even if this proves to be another in a series of false starts in the Reds' race for the postseason, it's the most rousing one yet.

        Home runs by Ken Griffey Jr., Dmitri Young and Pokey Reese fed a six-run, eighth-inning rally Friday that helped the Reds beat the Chicago Cubs 6-4.

        A noisy contingent of Cincinnati rooters joined the Wrigley Field throng of 40,586.

        While climbing back to .500, the Reds pulled within 4¹/₂ games of the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Central Division. The Cards lost 6-2 to Milwaukee.

        The Reds (57-57) overcame a four-run deficit for the second game in a row. After Griffey's three-run homer wiped out most of Chicago's 4-0 edge, Young's two-run drive off Steve Rain (3-2) put Cincinnati ahead. Reese's blast provided comfort. Danny Graves (19th save) preserved the lead with two scoreless innings.

Rob Bell makes pickoff throw to first. | ZOOM |

        If the Reds intend to make resilience — instead of underachievement — their 2000 trademark, they're on their way to succeeding. They have come from behind in each of their last three victories, including twice when trailing after seven innings. Cincinnati has won nine games when losing in the seventh or later, tying Pittsburgh for the most in the majors.

        “I think the guys must come back into the clubhouse and get into the Wheaties,” Reds manager Jack McKeon said.

        The Reds' manic swings in performance continue. Last weekend, the Florida Marlins swept the Reds at Cinergy Field. Now, they've begun to resemble the spirited 1999 club, which had 45 comeback victories. This year's total is 31.

        “Guys never want to give up,” Griffey said. “You guys saw it last year. I get to watch it first-hand now. There's a lot of time (to catch St. Louis). We just have to play hard and not leave anything on the field.”

        The Reds' victory cooled off the Cubs, who had won 20 of their previous 29 games and entered the series three games behind Cincinnati.

        “We have to win every series from here on out to have a chance to get to the playoffs,” Reese said. “To day was a good start. (The Cubs) were hot.”

        The Reds looked anything but hot for the first seven innings, as Cubs starter Kevin Tapani limited them to four hits while allowing just five balls out of the infield.

        But Tapani, who has been bothered all year by tendinitis, hurt his right knee while covering first base in the fifth inning and worsened it while running the bases in the seventh. He left the game with a strained patellar tendon after allowing singles to Alex Ochoa and Chris Stynes to open the eighth.

        Rain retired Barry Larkin on a grounder as the runners advanced, bringing Griffey to the plate. Griffey hit Rain's 2-1 pitch into the last row of the right-field bleachers against a 12 mph wind blowing in from Lake Michigan.

        “It woke us up,” Reese said.

        It also frustrated Young, who happened to be using the men's room at the time.

        “I figured Junior was going to draw a walk,” Young said.

        So after Sean Casey hit a two-out single and was replaced by pinch-runner Brian Hunter, Young compensated by creating his own highlights. He hit Rain's 0-1 pitch, lining what appeared to be an RBI double. But the ball barely cleared the basket atop Wrigley's brick outfield wall and landed in the first row of seats.

        “It looked like Sammy (Sosa) was about to make a play on it,” Young said. “Then I thought it may have gotten caught up in the ivy; then I saw the world-famous umpire finger.”

Reds 6, Cubs 4 Box, runs Young: Reds fans louder in Chicago Graves, Wohlers ends struggles

FALCONS 31, BENGALS 16
Bengals-Falcons Stats
AFC Central will shrink with realignment
Bears like Rackers' kicking if Bengals don't
Training camp visitors guide
Stadium will also be party place
Kuerten proving to be true No. 1
Today's tennis schedule
Friday's tennis results
Henman may have energy edge on Kuerten
Clement a familiar foe for Enqvist
Doubles game dying
Tennis Notebook
Dusing squeezes into Olympics with 6th-place finish
Swim Trials Notebook
Austin defends boxing title

• Return to Reds front page...