Even when something goes right for the Reds, it ultimately turns out wrong. At least when they're playing at home. Their 4-3 loss Sunday night to the Houston Astros was full of these flawed efforts.

Jim Brower gets the hook after one-third of an inning. (Jeff Swinger photos) | ZOOM |

        They added up to Cincinnati's seventh loss in its last eight games at Cinergy Field, where the “C” logo stenciled into the center-field grass to impress the nationwide ESPN audience had no charmed effect. The Reds (17-19), who also have dropped four of their last five decisions and 10 of 13 overall, still haven't won back-to-back games this season at home, where they own the National League's worst record (6-12).

        Cincinnati appeared doomed immediately as starter Jim Brower (2-1) yielded four runs in one-third of an inning. Almost as quickly, the Reds began a painstaking comeback. But it fizzled as they wasted Michael Tucker's leadoff double in the eighth inning and moved the tying run to second base in the ninth before Houston relief ace Billy Wagner recorded the final two outs for his eighth save.

        “Everyone played well except for me,” Brower said.

        But he wasn't isolated in his frustration.

Donnie Sadler stretches a single into a double in the first. | ZOOM |

Sadler is thrown out at third in the sixth. | ZOOM |

Sadler is caught stealing second in the seventh. | ZOOM |

        Case in point: Donnie Sadler. The utilityman replaced Barry Larkin at shortstop and enjoyed a career-best 4-for-4 performance. He scored the Reds' first two runs.

        Having stretched a single into a double in his first at-bat, Sadler maintained that aggressive baserunning. He wasn't as successful as the evening progressed.

        Accurate relays from left fielder Richard Hidalgo and shortstop Julio Lugo nailed Sadler at third base after he tried to tag up on Dmitri Young's drive to deep left in the sixth inning, resulting in a double play. The Reds would trim the difference to 4-3 in that inning on Houston third baseman Chris Truby's throwing error, but Sadler's misfortune dampened their prospects after they had runners on first and second with none out. Sean Casey, Cincinnati's leading run producer, singled to prolong the inning after the double play.

        Reds manager Bob Boone absolved Sadler from blame. “I thought it was a pretty good move,” he said, pointing out that two accurate relays were needed to retire Sadler. “He's probably safe on that nine out of 10 times.”

        “I went back and tagged, put my head down and ran as hard as I could,” Sadler said. “It's going to take a perfect throw, a perfect relay and they did it. You have to tip your hat to them for executing the play well.”

        Bear in mind that the Reds rank last in the National League with 28 home runs. They might be courting disaster when they run the bases with abandon, but perhaps their powerless offense forces them to do so.

        “We're not exactly hitting it over the wall; I think we've got to (run aggressively),” Boone said. “You have to be selective in your aggressiveness.”

Jason LaRue bobbles a throw in the first inning, allowing Jeff Bagwell to score. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        Cincinnati's pitching was just as star-crossed. The bullpen combined for 8 2/3 scoreless innings after the Astros tortured Brower. Reds pitchers combined to issue a season-high 10 walks, but stranded 13 Houston baserunners.

        One problem: Three relievers — Scott Sullivan, John Riedling and Mark Wohlers — pitched two innings or more, exceeding their usual workload. When the day dawned, the bullpen was well-rested.

        “Now we've got an empty tank,” Boone said. Referring to Chris Reitsma, tonight's starter, he added, “Good luck, Chris.”

        Brower was luckless after Lugo belted his 3-1 pitch over the left-center field barrier. Lugo was the third Reds opponent to belt a leadoff homer, following Milwaukee's Ron Belliard (April 18) and Los Angeles' Marquis Grissom (May 2), both off Pete Harnisch.

        Consecutive one-out singles from Jeff Bagwell, Lance Berkman and Moises Alou generated the next run off Brower, who then walked Hidalgo to load the bases. Having mustered one hit in his previous 20 at-bats, Truby whistled a 1-0 pitch off the base of the left-field wall for a double, scoring Berkman and Alou while finishing Brower.

        “I had no chance to get into a rhythm,” Brower said. “It was a bad time for a bad game. I wish it was a game where I could take the loss and they (his teammates) couldn't.”

Astros 4, Reds 3 Griffey out another 3-4 weeks Bell may get early bell Boone playing cautious with Larkin Reds box, runs

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