Barry Larkin slides safely past Cardinals catcher Mike Matheny. (Jeff Swinger photo) | WALLPAPER | Click to load image, then right-click to SAVE AS BACKGROUND

        Timely hitting. Good pitching. A couple of homers. Excellent weather. That summed up the day for the Reds, who efficiently rolled past St. Louis 8-1 in less than 2½ hours Saturday before 25,006 fans at Cinergy Field.

        “It was the perfect afternoon for us,” Cincinnati reliever Scott Sullivan said.

        In many respects.

        We'll start with the hitting.

        St. Louis starter Darryl Kile (1-3) retired the first seven Reds he faced, then ran into trouble in the third.

        Corky Miller jump-started Cincinnati's offense with a broken-bat single to left field with one out. Pitcher Chris Reitsma popped out to first baseman Tino Martinez on a bunt attempt.

        Then Todd Walker singled to center, sending Miller to third. Barry Larkin doubled to left, scoring Miller with Walker going to third. Juan Encarnacion grounded a single to left, scoring Walker and Larkin.

        Encarnacion stole second base. Austin Kearns was hit by a pitch just above his wrist. Adam Dunn then smacked a drive down the right-field line, scoring Encarnacion.

        Just like that, the Reds were ahead 4-0.

        “Two-out RBIs can get a team going,” Kearns said. “We got two or three there . . . and we just carried off that. I think it's just a matter of time. There are guys here that can hit, there are guys that have hit their whole life. Some people are just off to a slow start.”

        Coming into Saturday's game, the Reds' .203 batting average with runners in scoring position was dead-last in the Major Leagues.

        In addition to the three third-inning hits with runners in scoring position, the Reds took advantage in the sixth, as well.

Juan Encarnacion eyes Cardinals pitcher Darryl Kile after being hit by a pitch in the 5th inning. (Jeff Swinger photo) | ZOOM |

        With one out, Aaron Boone broke out of an 0-for-16 slump with a single to left field, then stole second base. Ruben Mateo followed with a bloop single to right that sent Kile to the showers. He was replaced by Mike Crudale, who promptly gave up a double to Miller, scoring Boone and pinch-runner Reggie Taylor. It was 6-1 Reds.

        “That bats come around; that's how baseball always is,” Miller said. “You either hit, or you don't. Right now we're swinging the bat really well.”

        “Our offense was the story today,” Sullivan said.

        Part of it.

        Reds starter Reitsma (2-0) did a fine job, allowing only one run and five hits in 5 2/3 innings. After giving up singles to two of the first three batters of the game, the right-hander retired nine batters in a row.

        Having a four-run lead didn't hurt mentally.

        “It took a little bit of pressure off, not that I was feeling any, but just going out there with a little bit of a cushion, not feeling like I have to be perfect,” Reitsma said. “I didn't feel like I had my good stuff, to be honest with you. I got away with a couple pitches here and there that were up, but for the most part I made really good pitches when I needed to.”

        Reitsma was lifted with two outs and runners on first and second in the sixth. Sullivan came in and got Edgar Renteria to fly out to the warning track in center field. Sullivan retired all seven batters he faced before giving way to Scott Williamson in the ninth. Williamson shut down the Cardinals 1-2-3.

        Kearns added his fourth homer — a solo shot to left field — off St. Louis reliever Mike Timlin in the seventh inning.

Austin Kearns is congratulated by teammate Aaron Boone after his home run in the 7th inning. (Jeff Swinger photo) | ZOOM |

        “I think it was the highest ball I've ever hit,” Kearns said. “It started off hooking and I thought it was going to go foul. That's why I was just watching.”

        Miller homered off Bud Smith in the eighth — his second of the season. Miller had three of the Reds' 10 hits, adding a single and double and totaling three RBI.

        “All big hits, too,” manager Bob Boone said. “He's making a pretty good name for himself, that's for sure.”

        The Reds bounced back from Friday night's 4-2 loss and have won four of five games in their homestand, which ends today. They are seven games over .500 at 21-14 and lead second-place Pittsburgh by 2 1/2 games in the National League Central Division.

        “I don't think anybody's content by any means,” Sullivan said. “In October, if we're still in first place, it's something to be happy about. The clubhouse atmosphere is tremendous. That's encouraging. It makes life a lot easier here and at the homefront when you're enjoying your job and enjoying coming to the park and enjoying playing baseball.”

Reds 8, Cardinals 1 Reds box, runs Reds Q&A with John Fay DAUGHERTY: Austin's swinging has fans drooling Miller hits first, explains later Notes: At-bats getting better for Boone Cinergy Countdown No. 28: Sept. 1, 1997 Down on the farm Reds chatter Louisville 4, Syracuse 3 Baseball History - You could look it up Hermansen taking what might be last shot with Pirates MLB notebook NL roundup AL roundup John Fay's MLB power rankings Notes from Saturday's games

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