Thursday night dissolved into grim flashbacks of the 2000 season as the Reds rallied but fell to the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-6. The Reds lost the left side of their infield, shortstop Barry Larkin (right groin tightness) and third baseman Aaron Boone (left wrist) to injuries early in the game.

A trainer looks at Aaron Boone's wrist after he was hit by a pitch. (Craig Ruttle photos) | ZOOM |

        Though the injuries seem minor, they recalled last year, when various ailments suffered by numerous players allowed the Reds to use their projected starting line up in only 14 games.

        This season, of course, they won't field their intended lineup until center fielder Ken Griffey Jr.'s left hamstring heals.

        At least Cincinnati welcomed back first baseman Sean Casey, who drove in three runs while ending his two-game hiatus with a bruised left foot.

        The defeat, Cincinnati's second in a row, offered other unpleasant Y2K reminders. Though the Reds are 10-5 on the road, they're just 5-7 at Cinergy Field, where they haven't yet won back-to-back games this season. Last year, they didn't climb above .500 at home for good until they won their final six Cinergy Field games.

Chris Reitsma feels the heat in the third inning, when the Dodgers scored four runs. | ZOOM |

        Either factor — an infirm roster or failure to win where they should — can derail the season.

        But pronouncements of doom would be premature. If anything, the Reds were encouraged that Larkin and Boone were assigned day-to-day playing status.

        Still, said Larkin, “It's unfortunate we've having all these injuries at one time.”

        Larkin hurt himself after drawing a first-inning walk off Dodgers starter Luke Prokopec (3-0) and darting back to first base on the right-hander's second pickoff throw.

        “I definitely tweaked it,” said Larkin, who left the game after two innings. “Today it felt a little cranky before the game ... When I went back to first base, I think I got a little overextended.”

        If this sounds familiar, it's because a strained right groin bothered Larkin for much of spring training. But Reds medical director Dr. Tim Kremchek said Larkin's latest injury was higher and toward the inside portion (the adductor), while the spring injury was closer to front of the muscle.

Kelly Stinnett upends SS Alex Cora at second base. | ZOOM |

        “It doesn't look to be too severe,” Kremchek said. “He was smart, and (manager) Bob (Boone) was smart to pull him out.”

        Still, losing Larkin for any length of time is frustrating for the Reds, given his .341 batting average and the league-leading .462 on-base percentage he took into the game.

        “(Wednesday) I was out stealing bases,” Larkin said. But he warned No.2 hitter Deion Sanders before Thursday's game that he wouldn't try any larceny.

        Aaron Boone was struck on the bony knob of his wrist by a Prokopec pitch with two outs in the second inning. Boone left one inning later to receive X-rays, which revealed no fracture.

        That in itself could be a sign that the Reds' 2001 luck is better than last year's.

        “Considering the spot I got hit on, I'm very fortunate,” said Boone, who thought he might be able to play today. “I had tape and a wristband there. I think that probably saved me a little bit. It's just kind of tight and sore. But I can pick up a bat right now.”

Ruben Rivera strikes out with the bases loaded in the ninth. | ZOOM |

        At the outset, the Reds did little more than pick up their bats against Prokopec, who no-hit them for five innings. Meanwhile, Reds starter Chris Reitsma (2-2) pitched unevenly through the same span, yielding six runs and seven hits.

        Dodgers first baseman Eric Karros drove in four runs, hiking his series total to eight RBI and helping Los Angeles assume a commanding 8-3 lead.

        Then came the Reds' resilience. They scored three seventh-inning runs on Casey's two-run double and Alex Ochoa's RBI single.

        Cincinnati loaded the bases in the ninth against Dodgers closer and former teammate Jeff Shaw. Juan Castro singled to lead off the inning. After Sanders (0-for-5) struck out, Dmitri Young singled and Casey walked.

        Then Shaw earned his ninth save by striking out pinch hitter Ruben Rivera and Donnie Sadler.

        “We worked ourselves into a position where we had a chance,” Bob Boone said. “We could have rolled over easily.”

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