Ken Grifey Jr. slides into Cubs catcher Joe Giradi and ... (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        Anybody expecting a drab game to match the meaningless status of the Reds' series opener Monday night against the Chicago Cubs at Cinergy Field received a surprise.

        Reds center fielder Ken Griffey Jr. strained his left hamstring while rounding the bases at full speed. Griffey's condition was listed as day-to-day.

        The volume of public opinion regarding the Reds' managerial drama rose slightly as three signs supporting manager Jack McKeon appeared in left field.

        The game itself featured Jason LaRue's career-high five-RBIs, which helped the Reds outlast the Cubs 7-6.

.. doesn't get up right away. He eventually walked off the field with a strained hamstring. (Craig Ruttle photo) | ZOOM |

        “I'll look in my crystal ball and see if I can find a guy (today) for five RBI,” said McKeon, referring to Alex Ochoa's identical output Sunday at Pittsburgh. Ochoa's seventh-inning homer off Cubs reliever Steve Rain generated the eventual winning run Monday.

        Though the Reds' third victory in a row lifted them four games above .500 (74-70) for the first time since June 8, their magic number for elimination in the National League Central dwindled to 10 as first-place St. Louis defeated Pittsburgh. Cincinnati also dealt the Cubs their fourth consecutive defeat, though Chicago accepted a consolation prize in the form of Sammy Sosa's major league-leading 49th home run of the season, a fourth-inning leadoff shot off Pete Harnisch (7-6).

        Griffey, running hard from first base on Dmitri Young's two-out double in the seventh inning, was waved home by third-base coach Ron Oester. Griffey slid through Chicago catcher Joe Girardi and writhed in pain after being tagged out.

Fans try to dodge a bat flung by Ricky Gutierrez. (Craig Ruttle photo) | ZOOM |

        Flanked by trainer Greg Lynn and team physician Dr. Tim Kremchek, Griffey limped off the field through the backstop portal.

        It was unclear when Griffey's injury occurred. Griffey wasn't around after the game to speak to reporters, having departed for an MRI examination.

        “He told me on the field that he felt a little pop,” Lynn said.

        Though Griffey has missed only three games this season, he occasionally has complained of tender hamstrings.

        If Griffey's injury was sobering, the pro-McKeon signs provided some levity for the Reds. On the bench, hitting coach Denis Menke jokingly accused McKeon of inviting guests to unfurl the banners.

Jason LaRue hits a 2-run double. (Craig Ruttle photo) | ZOOM |

        Said an amused McKeon, whose job security is said to be in jeopardy, “Denny told me, "I see your pass is here.' I said, "What are you talking about? I didn't leave any passes.' At least they got (the signs) in a group.”

        Meanwhile, LaRue got his RBI in bunches. He hit a three-run homer in the second inning and a two-run double in the fourth off Cubs starter Daniel Garibay (2-8). LaRue entered the game in a 2-for-19 slump, which had dragged his batting average to .171. He matched the RBI total of his previous 70 at-bats and 22 games.

        “This has to be one of the most exciting moments of my career so far,” said LaRue, who has appeared in 59 major-league games since last year. “I couldn't ask for much more, especially when we got a win out of it.”

LaRue reaches for a foul ball. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        LaRue has struggled to gain consistency at the plate. But Try telling that to the Cubs, against whom he hit two homers on Aug.12 at Wrigley Field.

        “There are a couple of guys who, if we aren't in the league, they aren't in the league,” Cubs manager Don Baylor said. “(Houston's Tim) Bogar over the weekend (he homered twice). And LaRue just kills us.”

        The Reds' bullpen excelled after Harnisch lasted just five innings. Scott Sulli van pitched two scoreless innings and rookie John Riedling struck out the side for the second outing in a row. Despite yielding pinch hitter Jeff Reed's RBI single with two outs in the ninth, Danny Graves earned his career-high 28th save, and his third in three days.

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