LOS ANGELES - Joey Hamilton, the Reds Opening Day starter, pitched like an ace Wednesday night. The result was the Reds' ninth victory in 10 games as they beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-0 before a crowd of the 23,346 on a chilly night at Dodger Stadium.

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Joey Hamilton is now 9-2 lifetime vs. the Dodgers. (AP photo) 600 | 800 | 1024

        The long-time fans in the crowd probably thought they were seeing the Hamilton from the late 90s when he was San Diego's top starter.

        Hamilton went 7 1/3 innings (equaling the longest outing of the year by a Red), allowing six hits and no runs. He struck out seven and walked only one. He raised his record to 2-1 and lowered his ERA to 2.65. He also improved to 9-2 lifetime versus LA.

        “He was outstanding,” Reds manager Bob Boone said. “He had a lot of action on the ball. He was painting the corners. He was terrific.”

        Gabe White and Scott Sullivan finished it for the Reds. The shutout was the first of the year for the Reds.

        Hamilton hasn't pitched a shutout since 1996. But he had no problem with handing the ball over.

A fan catches Barry Larkin's first-inning HR. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        “I was thinking about it - no question,” Hamilton said. “I'm not going to lie. But with our bullpen, there's no need to keep going.

        "Let Gabe and Sully finish it. I have no problem with that. . . but (a shutout) would have been nice.'

        The victory, coupled with the Pittsburgh Pirates' 6-0 loss in Colorado, put the Reds up 2 1/2 games in the National League Central.

        The Reds managed only five hits and they struck out 11 times, but they gave Hamilton the early lead. Barry Larkin led off the game with a home run for seventh time in his career but first since 1994.

        “That was big,” Hamilton said. “A run is nice to have for the pitcher. You don't have to pick at it.”

        Juan Encarnacion homered to lead off the fourth. The Reds added two more in sixth to make it 4-0.

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Adam Dunn greets Juan Encarnacion after his fourth-inning HR. (AP photo) 600 | 800 | 1024

        By then Hamilton was rolling. Solid starting pitching has been the key to the hot streak. Reds starters are 6-1 with 1.68 ERA over the last 10 games.

        The Reds have been golden recently in Dodger Stadium. Wednesday's win was their seven straight there. The Reds are 10-1 the last two seasons on the coast.

        Larkin's homer - over the 360-foot mark in left - was his first of the season. In fact, it was his first since June 26 of last year. Larkin also doubled. He scored two of the Reds' four runs.

        Whether it was a sign or not that Larkin's April woes are behind him remains to be seen. But it's safe to say, he's happy it's May. Larkin hit .193 for the month of April and had only four extra-base hits.

        “I'm still trying to figure it out,” he said. “I had a couple of good swings tonight.”

Jason La Rue hangs on to the ball after tagging out Mark Grudzielanek to end the third inning. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        Hamilton was making his sixth start for the Reds. He had been effective -- he entered with a 3.30 ERA - but he had been living dangerously. He had allowed 52 base-runners in 30 innings (21 walks, 31 hits) in his first five starts.

        The Dodgers loaded the bases with two hits and a Larkin error in the third. Paul Lo Duca hit a fly to Encarnacion in right and Mark Grudzielanek tried to score from third. Encarnacion's throw was strong and right on target.

        Catcher Jason LaRue put on the tag for the double play.

        “I wanted to make on good throw,” Encarnacion said. “I tried to keep it on the line.”

        That would be the last threat against Hamilton.

        Encarnacion was the first hitter up the next inning. He hit Hideo Nomo's second pitch out to left for his seventh home run of the year. One run saved, another added.

        “That was nice,” Encarnacion said.

        Through five innings, Nomo had retired all but two Reds, and he still trailed 2-0.

Larkin leaps over Dodgers catcher Paul Lo Duca to score from third on a wild throw by Hideo Nomo in the sixth inning.

        The Reds added two runs in the sixth. Hamilton led off with a single, breaking an 0-for-26 slump by Reds pitchers. Larkin followed with a double. After Encarnacion grounded to third, Sean Casey got Hamilton in with a groundout to second.

        Adam Dunn then walked. Nomo did the old fake-to-third, throw-to-first move. They caught Dunn, but Larkin broke for home. Nomo wheeled and threw to home. The throw was wild. Larkin scored and Dunn ended up at third.

        Hamilton faced the minimum nine batters in the fourth, fifth and sixth, thanks to two double plays.

        Hamilton left after pinch-hitter Alex Cora singled one out into the eighth. The Dodgers would load the bases with two singles off White. But he got Shawn Green to ground out to end the inning.

Reds 4, Dodgers 0 Reds box, runs Larkin hits first HR since June Dodgers blanked for fifth time Williamson ready to defend teammates Kearns battered after beaning Miller pushing LaRue for starter's job Reds Notebook: Shaw talks back on Rockies 6, Pirates 0 Padres 4, Cubs 3 Mets 7, Diamondbacks 1 White Sox 9, Mariners 2

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