Barry Larkin doesn't like getting a day off, but this time it might have helped. The slumping shortstop returned to the Reds lineup and hit a run-scoring single and made a pivotal defensive play Tuesday night in a 3-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies.

Barry Larkin singles home the tying run. (Brandi Stafford photo) | ZOOM |

        Larkin, who went 2-for-3 with a walk, singled home a run as the Reds took the lead in the fourth, and threw out Jose Ortiz at third base when he strayed too far during an unrelated rundown in the seventh.

        Larkin also made a nice play up the middle to steal a hit from Juan Uribe in the fourth.

        “I'm finding something that, hopefully, I'll be able to stick with for a while,” Larkin said. “It's a struggle to find consistency.”

Larkin steals a hit from Juan Uribe in the fourth inning. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        Manager Bob Boone gave him the day off last Sunday in Chicago, when he was in a 5-for-27 slide. Larkin, who missed most of last season with torn groin muscles, has been slowed this month by pulled muscles in his side.

        “He's fine, but he is 37 and it's a long season, so I'm going to give him as many breaks as I can,” Boone said. “He had a couple of huge at-bats. He made a couple of tremendous plays, and he showed some juice in his arm that I hadn't seen in a while.”

Rockies 2B Jose Ortiz falls on Larkin after forcing him at second. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        Larkin preserved the lead with a nice defensive play in the seventh.

        When Ortiz walked and moved up on a sacrifice. Ortiz stopped at third when Greg Norton singled to right, then eased toward home as Norton got caught in a rundown halfway to second base.

        “I saw him getting off the bag,” Larkin said. “I thought with another step or two, he'd be in no-man's land.”

        Larkin chased Norton back toward first, then whirled and made a perfect throw to third baseman Aaron Boone, who tagged Ortiz as he dove back to the base.

Reds 3, Rockies 2 Reds box, runs SULLIVAN: Encarnacion brought all the tools Larkin gets back in the swing 3 top prospects on DL Reds Notebook: Davis rehab progressing Giants 12, Cubs 4 Yankees 2, A's 1

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