Monday, July 30, 2001
Reds 8, Marlins 4
Reese, Reds show spark with sweep
By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The Reds, pronounced dead about two months ago, are beginning to show some signs of life. As far as the standings are concerned, it's a classic case of too little, too late. But there's a feeling in the clubhouse that there's something to build on again.
“The atmosphere is better,” Reds manager Bob Boone said. “Guys are having fun again.”
The three-game sweep — completed Sunday with a come-from-behind, 8-4 win over the Florida Marlins Sunday — had a lot to do with the improved mood. It was the Reds' first sweep at home this year. They've won five of six overall.
The joy was back even for Pokey Reese.
Reese, the Red who most wanted out, broke an 0-for-11 skid with a two-RBI double that got the Reds back in the game, then walked to force in a run to help ice the win.
The 22,765 fans at Cinergy gave him an 1999-like ovation.
“That was nice,” he said. “It felt good.”
The non-waiver trade deadline looms at 4 p.m. Tuesday. Reese could be gone before then. If so, his last game at Cinergy as a Red will be remembered for being more like '99 than 2001. Sunday's game was just the kind of game the Reds had lost on a consistent basis all year this year and routinely won in 1999.
That's the difference between a team that wins 96 games and one on pace to lose 99.
Reds got down 4-0 early and were facing a tough pitcher (A.J. Burnett) throwing his best stuff. Previously when that happened, particularly at Cinergy, it would be a good idea to try to beat the traffic.
But the Reds offense has been better since the trade that sent Alex Ochoa to Colorado for Todd Walker and opened a spot for Adam Dunn.
Dunn did nothing Sunday, but Walker was one of the stars, with two doubles and three RBI. The best sign for
the Reds is that guys hitting after Walker and Dunn are hitting, too.
“We're getting professional at-bats,”' Boone said. “If you do that, you maximize your potential to get hits.”
Sean Casey started the comeback with a one-out walk. Aaron Boone followed with a double to get Casey home. Ruben Rivera was hit by a pitch.
That brought Reese, he of the .219 average, to the plate. Reese was even worse with runners in scoring position (.182). Boone pinch-hit for Reese in a similar situation last week.
“I thought about it,” Reese said. “I was hoping he couldn't. I was glad he gave me the chance.”
He nearly popped out twice, but both balls fell out of play — the second one just barely getting into the seats as second baseman Luis Castillo chased it.
“I thought he was going to jump up on the tarp and snatch it,” Reese said.
The next pitch was the fastball Reese was looking for. He lined it into left, scoring Boone and Rivera.
After Jason LaRue took a third strike, the wheels started spinning. Boone sent up D.T. Cromer to pinch-hit for pitcher Chris Reitsma. Marlins manager Perez countered by bringing in left-hander Vic Darensbourg. Boone countered by bringing up Brady Clark for Cromer. Perez countered by intentionally walking Clark.
That put things squarely on Walker.
Walker lofted a flyball to left. Kevin Millar got a late break on it, rushed in and tried to make a diving catch. The ball went off his glove.
Reese and Clark scored. Walker had a gift double, and the Reds had a 5-4 lead.
The Reds loaded the bases again in the seventh on singles from Ken Griffey Jr. and Boone and Rivera's walk.
Reliever Braden Looper's control continues to haunt him.
He hit LaRue to force in one run and walked Reese to force in another.
It was 8-4 and the Reds were on their way to a sweep.
Sunday's production was typical of what they've done since the Ochoa-Walker trade. The Reds have averaged 6.77 runs a game since. They averaged 4.11 before the trade.
So have the Reds turned it around?
“Ask me in two months,” Boone said.
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Reds 8, Marlins 4
