Aaron Boone looks up at rain during the eighth inning. The game was delayed for 65 minutes. (Steven M. Herppich photos) | ZOOM |

        Manager Bob Boone took a realistic view toward the National League Central Division standings, which feature the Chicago Cubs in first place and the Reds in fifth.

        “We're too far back to worry about it,” he said before Thursday night's game, referring to the gulf separating the teams. “But you can have a lot of fun closing the gap.”

        The Reds tried to enjoy the rainy evening by capturing the opener of a four-game series, 5-2. Cincinnati (31-46), which trails the Cubs by 14 games, has won three in a row and six of its last eight.

        As a result, Reds first baseman Sean Casey was less restrained than Boone.

        “That's why you play 162 games. We haven't written off the season yet,” Casey said. “We're going to give it our best for the next 90 games and see where we are at the end.”

        Elmer Dessens (6-4) and five relievers combined to limit Chicago to five hits. The Reds were two outs away from their first home shutout since May 9, a 2-0 decision over San Diego. Then Chica
Gary Matthe
r. hit a two-run homer off Hector Mercado.

Barry Larkin is escorted off the field by Dr. Tim Kremchek, trainer Greg Lynn and catcher Jason LaRue. | ZOOM |

        Shortstop Barry Larkin's immediate future was cast in doubt as he aggravated his strained right groin when he slipped as he fielded Sammy Sosa's sixth-inning grounder toward the hole. Larkin, who has struggled all season with the injury, left the game and will be re-evaluated today.

        “He went to plant (his feet), the grass gave way and he tweaked it pretty good,” Boone said. “Hopefully it's not more serious than it has been.”

        The showers worsened later, halting play for one hour, five minutes in the top of the eighth inning.

        The Reds notched their first victory of the season over a Chicago team in 10 tries. Not only did the Cubs twice post three-game series sweeps last month, but the White Sox also won three straight in an interleague series June 12-14.

Elmer Dessens | ZOOM |

        Though the Reds still own the majors' worst home record (9-26), they lengthened their home winning streak to two games for the second time this year, dating to the June 20 finale of the last homestand. Cincinnati still hasn't won back-to-back games in the same homestand this year.

        Following Lance Davis' eight-inning, one-run gem Wednesday, Dessens sustained the effectiveness of Reds starters by working six innings. Dessens' erratic control prevented him from lasting longer, as Boone was forced to remove him after he walked Miguel Cairo to open the seventh. Dessens allowed only two hits but walked five, throwing 56 strikes in 105 pitches.

        Alex Ochoa, Cincinnati's hottest hitter for the past month, produced a 5-for-5 effort that included four infield hits and his seventh home run, a leadoff shot in the fifth inning off Cubs starter Kevin Tapani (8-5). Ochoa lifted his average to .374 (49-for-131) in his last 31 games while matching a single-game personal best.

Alex Ochoa celebrates his HR. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        The Reds continued their uprising in the fifth as Ken Griffey Jr. lined a one-out double to right field, moved to third on Sean Casey's groundout and came home on Aaron Boone's two-out double to right-center.

        Tapani departed after that inning, having allowed seven hits while walking four and striking out seven.

        Cincinnati added a run in the seventh, loading the bases against reliever Will Ohman on singles by Casey, Boone and Dmitri Young, who went 4-for-4. After Cubs manager Don Baylor summoned reliever Courtney Duncan, the Reds countered with pinch hitter Michael Tucker, who lifted a sacrifice fly.

        The Reds padded their lead with two runs in the eighth. Ochoa reached second base on a fluky bloop hit toward the mound compounded by Duncan's throwing error. Duncan matched that with a fielding error on Juan Castro's subsequent bunt, leaving Reds on second and third. Kelly Stinnett and Casey then hit RBI singles.

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