Dennys Reyes on the bench after giving up Rafael Furcal's homer in the seventh inning that gave the Braves a 5-4 lead. (Michael E. Keating photo) | ZOOM |

        Scott Sullivan knows the Reds bullpen is going to have days like Monday. But he would rather have the bad days happen without so many people watching.

        “I hate to have it happen on Opening Day,” Sullivan said. “I appreciate all our fans coming out. If that's going to happen, I'd rather have it happen in Montreal with 10,000 people there.”

        The bullpen allowed six runs (five earned) on eight hits in three innings in the Reds' 10-4 loss to the Braves at Cinergy Field.

        That's not what the Reds were expecting from their bullpen, which some consider the best in baseball.

        “I like our chances with our bullpen,” Reds shortstop Barry Larkin said.

        The relief corps took over in the seventh inning with the game tied 4-4. Denny Reyes allowed a solo home run to Rafael Furcal to make it 5-4.

        “Inside fastball,” Reyes said. “He hit a good pitch.”

        The game got away from the Reds in the eighth. Sullivan allowed a leadoff single to Brian Jordan. Then he got what he wanted from Javy Lopez: A ground ball. But it went off Larkin's glove for an error.

        “(If) the ball doesn't take a bad hop, it's a textbook double play,” closer Danny Graves said. “Then it's two outs and nobody on.”

        As it was, the troubles were just starting. The killer was Quilvio Veras' shot down the line that Sean Casey nearly fielded. Instead, it went for a three-run double.

        The Braves loaded the bases again, but John Riedling was able to get the final two outs of the inning with out further damage.

        Sullivan's pitching line was one-third of an inning, four hits, four runs (three earned).

        The ground ball to Larkin that went for an error changed the game.

        “It didn't go exactly to script,” Reds manager Bob Boone said. “Scott gets what he wants there — a ground ball, a tough ground ball. So I wasn't particularly disappointed in the bullpen.”

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