Monday, May 13, 2002
Larkin out of slump, game
By Gary Estwick, gestwick@enquirer.com
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Barry Larkin said he was fine with manager Bob Boone taking him out of Sunday's game after the second inning.
By that point, Larkin had made a great play at shortstop, and was 2-for-2 with a single and double. He scored two runs.
The Reds led 8-0. Ten Cardinal runs later, the Reds lost 10-8 with Larkin in the dugout.
Larkin is often pulled late in games in favor of reserves Gookie Dawkins or Wilton Guerrero. Boone does it to preserve his 38-year-old shortstop, and to lessen the chances of possible complications from Larkin's offseason sports hernia surgery.
“That's the way it's been up to this particular point,” Larkin said. “Today, we happened to lose. I could have been in there, and we still could have lost.”
Larkin has started 30 of the Reds' 36 games.
“I'd probably do it (pull Larkin) the same next time,” Boone said. “Standing here right now, I wish I hadn't. (But) I don't think that was really a factor.”
Larkin has also fought his way out of a hitting slump.
Sunday's two hits gave him a seven-game hitting streak in which he has hit .420 (10-for-24). He's raised his average to .233.
In April, Larkin he had just four multi-hit games. He's already matched that number in May.
On his outstanding play, Larkin went in the hole to his right, and threw out the fleet J.D. Drew for the second out in the first inning.
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Larkin out of slump, game
