LOS ANGELES — The Reds joined some very select company by wrapping up April how they started it — with a win. The Reds beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-1 Tuesday night. The victory made them 16-8 in April. No Reds team had won 16 in April since the 1970 National League champions went 16-6.

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Austin Kearns makes a run-saving catch in the second inning. (AP photo) 600 | 800 | 1024

        Adam Dunn hit his third home run in three plate appearances — a two-run shot in the first inning off Dodgers ace Kevin Brown — to give the Reds an early 2-0 lead. Starter Chris Reitsma (1-0) and relievers Gabe White, Scott Sullivan and Danny Graves made it stand up for the Reds' eighth victory in their last nine games.

        The first-place Reds took a 1 1/2-game lead over the Pirates, who lost 10-0 to the Rockies.

        The homer was Dunn's fifth of the season and fourth in three games. He became the first Red to hit homers in three straight plate appearances since Bret Boone did it Sept. 28, 1998. Dunn's homer streak ended with a walk in third inning.

        “He's locked in right now,” Barry Larkin said of Dunn. “It's just been a matter of him getting comfortable and settling down. He's just seeing it and crushing it.”

        “With a guy like Brown and two strikes on you, you just want to put the bat on the ball,” Dunn said. “He left it over the middle and I was lucky to get good wood on it.”

Umpire Jerry Crawford looks over Kearns after he was beaned. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        Brown was activated from the 15-day disabled list earlier in the day. Brown, who has had recurring elbow problems, entered the game 7-1 with a 1.76 ERA in nine career starts versus the Reds.

        Reitsma started for the Reds. (That's a $15.7 million pitcher facing a $252,000 pitcher). Reitsma left runners at second and third in the first inning. He stranded them at first and second in the second, thanks to a diving, backhanded catch by right fielder Austin Kearns.

        Kearns' magic continued at the plate at well, and he got a major scare as well. He singled his first three times up. He was hit by a pitch his forth time up in the ninth inning — it knocked off his helmet and left him with a cut over his eye. That meant he had reached base in 13 of 14 plate appearances (9-for-10, three walks, one hit-by-pitch).

        According to manager Bob Boone, Kearns was to have undergo precautionary X-rays and a CT scan — along with a few stitches to close the gash.

Kearns wipes blood from his brow. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        “I hope he's OK,” said Dodgers reliever Giovanni Carrara, who hit Kearns and the next batter, Corky Miller. “You don't try to hit anybody in the head, especially with the score 2-1. Both pitches slipped out of my hand.”

        Watching Kearns go down brought ugly flashbacks to Sean Casey, who has been hit in the head twice this season.

        “I've never seen guys get hit in the head so often,” Casey said. “It's just scary. I know what Kearns is feeling. If it hit him a little more down the face, who knows what would have happened.”

        Brown went five innings, allowing two runs on five hits. He walked one and struck out five.

        “He just came off the DL and he's out there throwing 96 mph,” said Larkin, who had a double off Brown. “His ball is dipping and diving, running and cutting — typical K.B. But his location was a little off. He made some mistakes up in the zone and out over the plate. Normally, he's getting that ball in the hands to the hitters.”

        The Dodgers lifted Brown for a pinch-hitter Alex Cora, who doubled to start the Dodger fifth. Dave Roberts followed with a single. Cesar Izturis hit a smash that Reitsma got a glove on but could hold on to. Cora had to hold. But it was bases loaded, no outs.

The Reds spoiled Kevin Brown's return. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        Reitsma escaped about at cleanly as possible. Paul Lo Duca grounded into a double play, scoring Cora. Shawn Green then flied out to end the inning. Reitsma left two more runners in the sixth.

        That was the story of Reitsma's night: He lived dangerously, but pitched effectively.

        Reitsma went six innings, allowing eight hits but only the one run. He walked one and struck out three. It was another in a line of good starts by Reds pitchers. Over the last nine games, Reds starters have a 1.74 ERA.

        White followed and retired four batters. Scott Sullivan got the last two outs of the eight before giving way to Graves. Graves earned his 10th save, adding on to his club record for the month.

        The Reds added a run in the ninth. Carrara walked Todd Walker, then hit Kearns and Miller to load the bases. Pinch-hitter Wilton Guerrero singled home a run. Carrara got Larkin on strikes and got Juan Encarnacion to pop out. Jesse Orosco then came in to get Sean Casey to fly to center.

        The Reds had a good April last year. They went 14-10. But they followed it with a 6-22 May.

        The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Reds 3, Dodgers 1 Reds box, runs Sullivan: OF-P solution: Trade Griffey Boone scoffs at benching Griffey Send down Kearns? Not at .455 Larkin still struggling under .200 Rockies 10, Pirates 0 Padres 2, Cubs 1 Phillies 8, Giants 2 Mets 10, Diamondbacks 1

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