When Adam Dunn's first career grand slam landed, it looked like the Reds were on their way to a blowout. They weren't. But that was OK with the Reds.

ADAM DUNN WALLPAPER Click on right width for your monitor, then right click to Set As Wallpaper

Adam Dunn is greeted by Juan Encarnacion and Sean Casey after his grand slam. (Craig Ruttle photos) 600 | 800 | 1024

        After losing four straight games, they'll gladly take Monday night's 8-5 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. The Brewers did have the crowd of 12,867 at Cinergy Field a bit worried with a comeback that turned a five-run lead into a one-run lead.

        But, scary or not, it was a win. After struggling to hit on the road trip, the Reds swung the bats well Monday. That was key to holding off the Brewers.

        “We got big hits when we needed them,” Reds manager Bob Boone said.

        The eight runs were the most the Reds have scored in eight days. The difference may be simply who they're facing. The San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers have two of the best starting staffs in the National League.

        “We know it's a long season,” said Sean Casey, who had four hits and two RBI. “Me, personally, I was swinging fine until I faced Kevin Brown, Hideo Nomo and Odalis Perez.”

Ken Griffey Jr. and Barry Larkin ham it up with Dunn in the dugout. Larkin is giving the hook-em-horns sign for the University of Texas, where Dunn played quarterback. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        Monday, the Reds were facing Ruben Quevedo. They lit him up for five runs in the first. Juan Encarnacion started the rally with a one-out walk. Casey followed with a double into the gap. Quevedo then walked Austin Kearns to load the bases.

        That brought up Dunn. Quevedo threw a fastball down the middle. Bad idea. Dunn launched it. It nearly disappeared into the clouds before landing in the bullpen behind right field for a grand slam, the first of Dunn's career.

        “I knew I didn't get all of it,” Dunn said. “But I knew I got enough of it.”

        It was his seventh home run of the season and sixth in his last nine games.

        Jason LaRue got another run home with a sacrifice fly, and it was 5-0 after one inning.

Joey Hamilton tests his injured hamstring under the guise of pitching coach Don Gullett. (Craig Ruttle photo) | ZOOM |

        Reds starter Joey Hamilton got the first two batters in the second. But he then allowed a walk and a single. Former Red Alex Ochoa, pinch-hitting for Quevedo, got a run in with a line double into the left-center gap. Eric Young made it 5-3 with a two-run single.

        The Reds blew a second-and-third no-outs chance in the third.

        Hamilton would only last another third of an inning. Matt Stairs led off with a shot that Casey fielded near the first base line. Hamilton injured his left hamstring racing to cover first. He went on the 15-day disabled list today.

        The Reds threatened again in the fourth. With one out, Casey doubled for the third straight time. He became the first Red to double three times in a game since Hal Morris did Aug.17, 1996.

        To Casey, that showed the odd nature of hitting.

Sean Casey stands at second after the first of his three straight doubles. (Craig Ruttle photo) | ZOOM |

        “In 30 games, I had three doubles,” he said. “Then I get three in an hour.”

        Kearns followed with a walk. But Dunn bounced into a double play to end the inning.

        Those missed opportunities were starting to look big because the Brewers kept adding runs. They scored one in the fifth to make it 5-4.

        The Reds finally turned a threat into runs in the sixth. Takahito Nomura walked pinch-hitter Brady Clark and Todd Walker on eight pitches to start the inning. Nomura was pulled after throwing ball one to Encarnacion. Ray King came in and got Encarnacion to ground out. But the runners moved up. Casey got them in with his fourth hit of the night to make it 7-4.

        “That was huge,” Boone said.

        Geoff Jenkins led off the eighth for the Brewers with a shot over the 40-foot black wall in center. It was only the third ball hit over the wall. It traveled 463 feet, just short of Mark McGwire's Cinergy record of 473.

ADAM DUNN WALLPAPER Click on right width for your monitor, then right click to Set As Wallpaper

Adam Dunn gets a high-five from Austin Kearns after his grand slam. (Craig Ruttle photos) 600 | 800 | 1024

        Encarnacion led off the eighth with a triple. The Brewers walked Casey intentionally (it was the ninth straight plate appearance in which Casey reached base, six hits, three walks). Kearns was walked unintentionally. That brought up Dunn. He was thinking double slam.

        “I was,” he said. “I'm not going to lie. But then with two strikes, you're thinking get a run in.”

        He did with a sacrifice fly. It gave him a career-high five RBI.

        “Tonight, we got the five in the first,” Casey said. “We had to figure out a way to get some more and we did.”

Reds Stories

Reds 8, Brewers 5 Reds box, runs Griffey tired of negative remarks Hamilton out; Acevedo in Notes: Larkin out, but hamstring okay NL roundup AL roundup Mariners have the look of a champion AAA: Louisville 6, Buffalo 1

For 25 years, it was a wonderful life
Second-guessing the decision to sell War Emblem
Fisher close to hitching ride for Indy 500
Former Indiana preps coach arrested for drugs
Paralyzed Washington safety Curtis Williams dies
Senators 3, Maple Leafs 2
Sharks 6, Avalanche 4
Mavericks 110, Kings 102
Shaq, Kobe both expected to play for Lakers
Coming up this week
Bengals WRs make big strides at minicamp
Notes: Frerotte has a good first impression
UC hoops ready to 'Salute'

• Return to Reds front page...