MINNEAPOLIS — Whether Brad Radke's pitching smothered them or the prospect of the All-Star break distracted them Sunday afternoon, the Reds looked as if they had no business being in the Metrodome.

        After dropping one-run decisions in the first two games of this series, Cincinnati played down to its status as a last-place club by mustering three hits in a 7-1 loss to the Minnesota Twins.

        In a sense, this was a fitting ending to a dismal first half for the Reds, who own the National League's worst record (33-54) and are tied for 13th in the league scoring.

        Radke (10-4) allowed five balls to be hit out of the infield while pitching a complete game — another feat that has eluded the Reds this year. Two of Cincinnati's hits were infield singles; the other was Jason LaRue's third-inning home run. Radke retired the final 20 batters, sealing the Twins' three-game interleague series sweep and hastening the Reds' departure for their three-day getaway.

        After a reporter suggested to shortstop Barry Larkin this might be a good time for the Reds to put baseball aside for a while, the team captain chuckled and said, “I already said that to a couple of guys in here.”

        When the Reds return Thursday for an interleague series against Cleveland, they'll face the challenge of hiking a .379 winning percentage that puts them on pace to lose 101 games — which would match a franchise record.

        “Hopefully we can make the second half at least respectable,” reliever Scott Sullivan said. “It's been embarrassing. You can talk about the injuries, you can talk about this excuse and that excuse. Everybody has a story. Our story is, we just haven't gotten it done.”

        Seven losses in eight games have left the Reds in last place at the All-Star break for the first time since 1998. Nobody pretends they can overtake the first-place Chicago Cubs in the NL Central. Yet players insist they can spur themselves in the second half.

        “We're major-league baseball players,” said Larkin. “That's all the motivation you need. Show up and be thankful we have one of these uniforms. Go out and play with pride.”

        Reminded the Reds rarely have been buried so deeply in the standings this early, Larkin said, “It doesn't change things. You go out there and play hard ... Nothing changes. Hopefully the results won't be the same. I don't think anyone has questioned the heart and hustle of this team. We've played hard. We just haven't done very well.”

        Right fielder Alex Ochoa said the Reds will do well to ignore the 18 1/2-games separating them from the Cubs: “Try to win series by series, game by game. It's hard to get motivated if you look at the big picture.”

        If the Reds were to stare at a mirror instead of a picture, they'd cringe. Radke, one of the AL's most artful pitchers, preyed upon Cincinnati's impatience and indecision at the plate.

        “He locates the ball impeccably and changes speeds constantly,” Reds manager Bob Boone said of Radke, who owns a 4-0 career record against Cincinnati. “If you don't get in good hitting position, you have no chance because then you're just guessing at the speed.”

        Said Ochoa, who went 0-for-4, “His curveball, his slider, his change-up — he does it all.”

        So did the Twins, the AL Central leaders who displayed a combination of power and speed all weekend. Minnesota, which hit five doubles in each of the first two games, collected three this time off Reds starter Elmer Dessens (6-6), all by Torii Hunter. But Matt Lawton complemented Hunter nicely by matching a career high with four hits, including his 10th home run.

        “We got schooled both ways,” said Boone, referring to the opponent's offense and pitching.

        And that pretty much summarizes the Reds' first half.

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