Cincinnati Reds' Adam Dunn, left, and Austin Kearns share a conversation in the dugout during the first inning of play against the St. Louis Cardinals June 6, 2002. DESKTOP WALLPAPER Click to view the full-sized image, then right-click to 'Set As Background'. (Gary Landers photo) | WALLPAPER |

        Aaron Boone was kidding. “We had it all the way,” he said.

        The Reds' 3-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals was a nail-biter. When center fielder Ken Griffey Jr. caught J.D. Drew's fly ball with the bases loaded to end the game, the crowd of 23,102 at Cinergy Field just as easily could have sighed in relief as cheered.

        The fans decided on cheering, and they did so loud and long. That's how sweet this one was for the Reds.

        “The Cardinals have beat us up pretty good,” Reds closer Danny Graves said. “We've got to beat the teams that are going to be there at the end. This is a huge win for us.”

        Huge because the Reds leave town with a two-game lead in the National League Central, same as when they started the homestand. Huge because it was over the second-place Cardinals, who had taken four of the previous five games from the Reds.

St. Louis's Kerry Robinson is picked off by pitcher Jimmy Haynes in the first inning. Sean Casey applies the tag. (AP Photo/Al Behrman) | ZOOM |

        The Reds start interleague play tonight with the first of three games in Anaheim against the Angels. That's followed by three against the Rangers in Texas.

        “We wanted to get a win, get it over with and get out of here,” Graves said.

        They did, just barely.

        The Reds took a 1-0 lead on Barry Larkin's third first-inning leadoff home run of the year.

        “It was good to get on top of one,” Larkin said. “It was a fastball. I was able to sneak it over the wall.”

        The Cards tied the score in the second, but the Reds got the lead back when Griffey led off the fourth with his first home run since returning from the disabled list last month.

        “It was bound to happen,” Griffey said. “Did you think I was going to be stuck on (career homer No.) 461 forever?”

Ken Griffey Jr. connects for a home run during the fourth inning. (Gary Landers photo) | ZOOM |

        The Reds picked up another run on Larkin's sacrifice fly in the fifth before the Cards, who lead the NL with 19 comeback wins, made it interesting — very interesting.

        Drew cut the deficit to one in the eighth with his ninth home run, a long drive to right-center off Gabe White.

        Graves was brought in to close out the win in the ninth. He retired Eduardo Perez by snagging a vicious comebacker and throwing out Perez. Eli Marrero then singled and moved to third on Placido Polanco's single.

        That brought up Fernando Vina. The Reds were going to pitch to him, but when Polanco moved up on a wild pitch, they intentionally walked Vina.

        “That turned out to be a blessing in disguise,” Reds catcher Jason LaRue said.

        Pinch hitter Miguel Cairo smashed one right at Graves.

        “You want a ground ball in that situation,” Larkin said. “But not a 100-mph ground ball between your legs.”

Jason LaRue beats the throw to St. Louis first baseman Tina Martinez for a base hit during the seventh inning. (Gary Landers photo) | ZOOM |

        Graves snatched it, however.

        “If he ever starts, he'll give (Atlanta's Greg) Maddux a run for the Gold Glove,” Reds manager Bob Boone said.

        The Reds had plenty of time to turn a double play. Graves threw home to LaRue, forcing out Marrero, but the ball flew out of LaRue's hand as he took the ball out of his mitt to throw to first.

        LaRue had blocked the wild pitch to Vina with his bare hand, leaving his fingers numb.

        “That's no excuse,” LaRue said. “I still should have made the play.”

        That brought up Drew, who had hit a two-run homer off Graves in the infamous 10-8 Cardinals comeback/Reds fold May 12.

        “He beat me on a fastball in (that game),” Graves said. “If he was going to beat me today, it was going to be the other way.”

        Drew hit the ball pretty well, but Griffey's routine play ended the game.

        “We've struggled a game or two,” third baseman Aaron Boone said. “But we've been good at salvaging series.”

        A 1-1 split over the Cards felt like a series victory given the way the Reds had played against St. Louis.

        “This is a two-game swing,” Larkin said. “That's nice.”

Reds 3, Cards 2 Reds box, runs Schedule crunch squeezes Reds-Indians AL West foes ring a bell Boone returns home to start interleague play Haynes gives Reds their money's worth Reds at Angels series preview Rangers 9, Angels 8 Twins 8, Indians 3 Louisville 4, Pawtucket 0 Notes from Thursday's games Twins will play ball in 2003

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