Elmer Dessens hugs catcher Jason LaRue after his complete-game shutout. (Ernest Coleman photo) | ZOOM |

        Two years after Pokey Reese was deemed untouchable, his statistics suggest he has become unteachable. He was hitting .219 after an 0-for-2 Saturday night, locked in a season-long slump and a sustained contractual stalemate with general manager Jim Bowden.

        It took 52 games, but the Reds finally did it. Elmer Dessens shut out the Florida Marlins 5-0 Saturday night before a crowd of 29,145 at Cinergy Field. The significance? It was the first time all year the Reds have won back-to-back games on a homestand.

        “We were very aware of that,” Reds manager Bob Boone said. “We're very happy to get it.”

        Other firsts Saturday:

        • The victory also assured the Reds of their first winning home series since they took two of three from Pittsburgh in the second series of the year. They were 0-13-2 since in home series.

        • The complete-game shutout by Dessens (7-8) was the first of the year for the Reds. Chris Reitsma and Danny Graves combined for the Reds' only other shutout, beating the New York Mets 1-0 on April 14. It was only the second complete game of Dessens' career.

        “Elmer was terrific,” Boone said. “He was really on (tonight). But he's been on best pitcher day in, day out.”

        Overall, the Reds have won four of five.

Ken Griffey Jr. homers. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        Ken Griffey Jr. gave the Reds the early lead with a homer in the first, and Dmitri Young broke it open with a grand slam in the sixth.

        Florida starter Brad Penny retired 10 of the first 11 Reds. The one he didn't — Griffey in the first — hit a home run to give the Reds a 1-0 lead.

        Griffey's homer was a 410-foot shot to right-center. It was Griffey's first home run vs. the Marlins after 50 at-bats. Griffey has homered against every team in the big leagues but Philadelphia and the two teams he's played for — the Reds and Seattle.

        “The way Elmer was going, it looked like that might hold up,” Boone said.

        For a good long while, it looked like it would have to for the Reds to win. They wouldn't get another hit until Jason LaRue's two-out single in the fifth. The single extended LaRue's hitting streak to a season-high seven games.

Dmitri Young is greeted by Sean Casey after his grand slam. (Ernest Coleman photo) | ZOOM |

        But Penny had a sudden lapse in control in the sixth. He got Todd Walker to line out to start the inning. Then Adam Dunn walked. Griffey popped to short.

        But Sean Casey and Aaron Boone walked to load the bases.

        That brought up Young, the free swinger. He followed Boone's four-pitch walk by swinging at Penny's first pitch. He hit a high-arching shot that went out the opposite way, just clearing the 14-foot wall above the 375-foot mark in left-center.

        “I went up there looking for a fastball,” Young said. “He still has to come to me in that situation. The hitter's got the advantage.”

        It was Young's 11th homer of the year and second career grand slam. The fans kept cheering until Young emerged for the dugout for a curtain call. “My first,” he said.

        He gave the fans his finger waggle.

        Young had just three hits in his previous 29 at-bats (.103). He was 0-for-6, with four strikeouts before the slam. Early in the day, he had offered a $1,000 reward to anyone who could find his swing.

        “I found it,” he said. “So I'll pay myself.”

Sean Casey tumbles after a play at first. (Ernest Coleman photo) | ZOOM |

        Penny (7-5) went six innings and allowed only three hits. The season-high five walks were his downfall.

        The 5-0 lead was overkill the way Dessens was pitching.

        “Of course, I was more relaxed after Dmitri's grand slam,” Dessens said. “That was a very good feeling. But, I said, "OK, keep going. Keep pitching your game.'”

        Dessens allowed six singles and one walk. He struck out six and did not allow a runner to reach second base until there were two outs in the eighth inning.

        He finished with a flurry, striking out Kevin Millar and Derrek Lee to complete the 1-2-3 ninth. The pitch Lee swung through to end it was Dessens' 100th pitch of the night.

        It was Dessens' first win since June 28, but in the five starts since his last win, the Reds scored a total of 10 runs.

        “I was feeling very good,” he said. “I was trying to throw first-pitch strikes. Everything was working.”

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