Reds shortstop Barry Larkin fields a ground ball from Marlins' Preston Wilson in the first inning. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        MIAMI — The Reds' 17-game National League odyssey — 14 road games around three home games — ended about as well as the team could have hoped.

        The Reds beat the Florida Marlins 4-1 Thursday night before an intimate gathering of 6,140 at Pro Player Stadium. The victory means the Reds were 11-6 in the 17 games. And it means their lead in the National Central is the same — two games — as it was when they started the trek.

        The Reds swept the three-game series from the Marlins for their fourth series sweep of the year. The sweep gave them a 4-2 road trip and means they come home with a two-game lead on the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Central. St. Louis was off Thursday.

        “Any time you win on the road, it's clutch,” Adam Dunn said. “Everyone expects you to win at home and go .500 on the road. We've been playing well at home and on the road.”

        The Reds are 17-12 on the road and 15-9 at home.

        Starter Jimmy Haynes (5-5) pitched 6 2/3 innings, allowing the one run on six hits. He struck out three and walked two. Haynes has won three of his last four decisions. He got the Reds' only win in the three-game series at Atlanta.

        “Pretty good road trip for him,” Reds manager Bob Boone said.

        Barry Larkin and Dunn each hit solo home runs. Larkin drove in one of the Reds' other runs.

        Dunn is on one of the better streaks of his young career. Thursday night was his second straight three-hit game. He has an eight-game hitting streak and has reached base in 23 straight games.

        “I'm feeling good up there,” Dunn said. “I'm being more aggressive. I'm not taking as many pitches.”

        Why?

        “My walk streak is over,” Dunn said.

        His team-record streak of 13 straight games with at least one walk ended Wednesday. The way Dunn's hitting, another one might start soon. He is 16-for-28 (.571) with three homers and six RBI in his eight-game hitting streak, which has pushed his average up to .314.

        With the win, the Reds (32-21) are 11 games over .500 for the first time this season. The Reds didn't win their 32nd game until June 30 last season.

        The Reds return to Cinergy Field tonight (7:05) — it's Johnny Bench bobble-head doll night — for the first of three games with Atlanta Braves. After a day off Monday, the Cardinals come in for three.

Adam Dunn watches his solo home run off Marlins pitcher Oswaldo A. Mairena in the ninth inning Thursday. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        The Reds took a 2-0 lead in the second. Adam Dunn started the inning with a single. Sean Casey followed with a single. Aaron Boone worked a walk to load the bases.

        Larkin then hit a fly ball to right. Former Red Eric Owens took a step in and then headed back to try and make the catch. The ball went off his glove for an error.

        Dunn and Casey scored on the play.

        Jason LaRue followed and struck out for the fifth time in five at-bats. That started a streak in which Marlins starter Kevin Olsen retired 14 in a row.

        But Haynes cruised once he had the lead.

        “That takes a lot of the pressure off,” Haynes said. “You can go out and pitch. It's different than pitching in the 0-0 games.”

        Haynes allowed only three singles through five innings and did not allow a runner to get past second base.

        “I tried to mix it up,” Haynes said. “Go in and out, try to stay away from the middle of the plate.”

        “You can't pitch better than he did,” Dunn said. “The key for us has been pitching. Everyone expected our bullpen to be good. I think people underestimated our starting pitching.”

        The Reds defense helped Haynes. Second baseman Todd Walker made a nice bare-handed play to get the speedy Luis Castillo in the third. Ken Griffey Jr. ran down a 400-foot-plus shot by Kevin Millar in the fourth.

        Larkin made it 3-0 with his third home run of the year, a 363-foot shot the opposite way to right.

        Haynes lost the shutout in the seventh. Derrek Lee hit his eight home run of the year, a 432-drive shot to center on a 3-1 pitch. Haynes was done after he walked Mike Redmond, the next hitter.

        Gabe White came on. White and Scott Sullivan each pitched two-thirds of an inning. Danny Graves pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his 17th save.

        Dunn's homer, his 11th, came in the ninth. It was a 436-foot shot to center.

        “It's steroids,” LaRue kidded.

        “If I was on steroids, I'd be in the NFL playing defensive end for somebody,” Dunn said.

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