Angels' David Eckstein is tagged out as he slides past Reds catcher Corky Miller in the third inning. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        ANAHEIM, Calif. — The 2002 Reds have proven to be a very different team than the 2001 Reds. If they want to stay in the pennant race, they had better be different when it comes to interleague play, as well.

        The 2001 Reds went 4-11 against the American League. The 2002 Reds are 0-1 after a 4-3 loss to the Anaheim Angels before a crowd of 35,341 at Edison Field in the first regular-season meeting of the two teams.

        Ken Griffey Jr. suffered a mild strain of the right hamstring and left the game after running out a groundball to avoid a double play in the fourth inning. He is listed as day-to-day. The injury that kept him out for 70 starts last year was to the left hamstring.

        “It's not bad,” Reds manager Bob Boone said. “I think it scared him more than anything.”

        Boone said Griffey won't likely start today, but he could pinch-hit.

        The Reds knew that a loss would trim their lead in the National League Central to one game. The St. Louis Cardinals' 12-6 victory over Kansas City went up on the scoreboard as a final about the time the Angels took a 4-0 lead in the third inning

Chris Reitsma (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        The game came down to one play in the third. With the hit-and-run on, Anaheim's Jorge Fabregas pulled a ball into right field as Todd Walker went to cover second base.

        Had Barry Larkin covered second, the ball goes to Walker and the Reds likely turn a double play.

        As it was, the ball went into right field, setting up a four-run inning.

        “That was the game right there,” starting pitcher Chris Reitsma said.

        Larkin made the call on who covers second.

        “It was the right call,” Walker said. “Fabregas sprays the ball or goes the other way. We had a pitch called where he was supposed to hit right to Barry. The pitch wasn't where it was supposed to be.”

        Reitsma said it was.

        “I made a good pitch,” Reitsma said. “It was away. (Fabregas) just rolled over it.”

Angels' Aaron Sele. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        Except for that inning, Reitsma was nearly perfect.

        Reitsma (3-3), who lost his third straight decision, faced the minimum 18 batters in his other six innings. He went seven innings, allowing the four runs on six hits. He walked two and struck out three.

        Scott Spiezio led off third with the first hit of the game. The Angels then executed the hit and run. That put Fabregas at first and sent Spiezio to third. Spiezio scored on Adam Kennedy's groundout.

        After David Eckstein walked came the second goofy play of the inning. Darin Erstad reached when he hit one off the plate that bounded all the out to second. Walker fielded but had no play.

        Troy Glaus got one run home with a single, but left fielder Austin Kearns threw Eckstein out at the plate. A huge assist goes to catcher Corky Miller for a nice catch and tag.

Angels' Garret Anderson. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        Garret Anderson made it 4-0 with a two-run double that Kearns nearly ran down in left-center. The ball just got over Kearns' glove as he tumbled trying to make the catch.

        “Crazy game,” Reitsma said. “The only good thing is didn't rain on me.”

        Anaheim starter Aaron Sele (6-3) retired the first nine Reds.

        The Reds broke through for a run in the fifth. Aaron Boone singled and Walker doubled him in.

        The Reds added a run in the eighth and another in the ninth. Larkin singled with one out in eighth. That was it for Sele. Left-hander Dennis Cook was brought into face Sean Casey. Cook got Casey to fly out. Larkin stole second with Reggie Taylor at the plate. Taylor reached on an infield single.

        Adam Dunn drove in Larkin with a single to left.

        Kearns singled with two outs in the ninth. He went to second on defensive interference. Jason LaRue drove him home with a single.

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