The Reds endured their usual frustration Wednesday night in a 2-1 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks. But at least Cincinnati's fourth defeat in a row featured a little excitement.

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Brian Reith receives congratulations after leaving the game. (AP photo) 600 | 800 | 1024

        Brian Reith made his major-league debut a memorable one, pitching 5 2/3 no-hit innings before Steve Finley singled up the middle.

        “It was everything I thought it would be and more,” said Reith, 23 and fresh from Double-A Chattanooga. “It's just amazing to be on the same field with these guys and living my dreams.”

        Cincinnati gave Reith a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the sixth, but Luis Gonzalez and

        Matt Williams hit consecutive home runs to open the seventh inning. It was the second night in a row back-to-back shots doomed the Reds.

        The Reds still had three at-bats remaining, but nine of their final 10 batters went down meekly. For a team that has scored 29 runs in its last 11 games, this finish was no surprise.

        “You've got to hit more. That's the bottom line,” said manager Bob Boone, whose Reds mustered five hits off Curt Schilling (6-1) and two relievers. “Either that, or call (commissioner) Bud Selig and see if we can play six innings.”

        The fifth-place Reds (17-22) trail Central Division-leading St. Louis by 6 1/2 games. Their National League-worst home record sank to 6-15, including 10 defeats in their last 11 Cinergy Field dates. Cincinnati also lost for the seventh time in its past eight games overall and the 12th time in their past 14.

Pokey Reese cuts his finger sliding back to first. (Brandi Stafford photo) | ZOOM |

        The night wouldn't have been complete for Cincinnati without some bad luck. Second baseman Pokey Reese suffered a cut on his right index finger that required five stitches. Reese, who's on day-to-day playing status, injured himself as he dove back to first base while Schilling tried to pick him off in the fifth inning.

        This continued the Reds' pattern of big hurts and no big hits. Tuesday, third baseman Aaron Boone went on the disabled list with a broken hamate bone in his right hand.

        Reith, the native of Fort Wayne, Ind., was their only consolation.

        “When you see a guy going out there like that, you try to raise your game as well,” left fielder Dmitri Young said. “Let's face it — he was going against one of the best pitchers in the league (Schilling) and fared well. We've fallen on hard times right now. But it's great to see a young guy like that have no fear and work his tail off.”

Donnie Sadler makes a diving catch. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        Reith retired the first 11 Diamondbacks before walking Gonzalez in the fourth. He recovered by getting Williams on a pop-up to end the inning, starting another streak of six batters retired in a row.

        This brought Reith to the sixth inning, when Finley batted with two outs. The Arizona center fielder connected on an 0-1 fastball, Reith's 12th delivery of the inning and 70th of the evening. The ball barely eluded second baseman Donnie Sadler, who replaced Reese and was playing his first inning in the field.

        Asked if he was aware of his no-hitter, Reith said: “Yeah, I knew. It's hard not to. It wasn't in the front of my mind, though.”

        One inning later, Gonzalez led off and sent Reith's 3-2 fastball over the right-field wall for his major league-leading 18th home run of the season.

        Williams clobbered Reith's next pitch over the right-center field barrier for his fifth homer.

Reith took a no-hitter into the sixth. (Brandi Stafford photo) | ZOOM |

        One out later, Reith yielded singles to Reggie Sanders and Tony Womack, ending his outing.

        Though Reith joined the legion of luckless Reds starters, who are 0-9 in the team's last 16 games, he savored the experience.

        “It was hard, definitely, but it's the same game,” Reith said. “Everybody kept telling me, "Just pitch how you've always been pitching,' and I did that.”

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