Angels center fielder Darin Erstad makes a diving catch to rob Barry Larkin of a hit in the first inning. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        ANAHEIM, Calif. — Russell Branyan noticed the difference. The Reds clubhouse has a frat house feel to it. Where else in the major leagues would you find a star player dancing in the middle of a circle of clapping teammates while “Celebration” blares on the stereo? Sean Casey does so after every win.

        Casey got to groove Saturday after the Reds beat the Anaheim Angels 4-3 Saturday afternoon before a crowd of 29,881 at Edison Field.

        After one day on the job, Branyan found the clubhouse refreshing.

        “It's one big unit here,” he said. “There's nothing negative. It's relaxed here.”

        Branyan came to the Reds from the Cleveland Indians. The atmosphere there has a more professional air to it — for instance, Tribe players might frown on the Reds ending the postgame “Celebration” ritual with a group chant of: “Reds! Reds! Reds!”

        They may behave like a college team, they may have a little too much fun on the job, but whatever the Reds are doing, it's working.

        Saturday's victory, which assured the Reds that they would remain in first place in the National League Central for the 44th straight day, was a classic example of the “one big unit” approach.

        “This was a day where it was going to take the little things to win,” Casey said.

        “That was a nice win for us,” Barry Larkin said. “(The Angels) are a good team. They keep coming at you.”

        The list of Red contributors to Saturday's win was nearly as long as the roster. But no one qualified as the star of the game. Three of the Reds' four runs came on a balk, a sacrifice fly and a groundout.

        The Reds fell behind 2-0 after three innings. Elmer Dessens, who entered the game with the second-best ERA in the NL, wasn't sharp early.

        “I thought I was going to have to go get him,” Reds manager Bob Boone said. “But he took it up a notch.”

        That gave the Reds time to mount a comeback.

        The first run came in the fourth on Branyan's bases-loaded sacrifice fly. Branyan was 0-for-8 with six strikeouts with the bases loaded for Cleveland.

Angels' Bengie Molina is caught in a rundown by Reds shortstop Barry Larkin. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        “I think it's more relaxed here,” Branyan said. “There's not a lot of pressure on me. I'm a bench player. I'm trying to contribute.”

        The Reds tied it in the fifth. Barry Larkin doubled with one out. He moved to third on Casey's fly out and scored on Anaheim starter Ramon Ortiz's balk. An assist goes to third base coach Tim Foli.

        “Foli lives for that play,” Boone said.

        “He told me to give him a sharp break,” Larkin said. “I hate to resort to trickery. But whatever works.”

        The Reds rallied off the Angels bullpen in the eighth. Casey walked. An out later, Austin Kearns singled right over the mound. Anaheim's Ben Weber was lucky to escape without injury.

        Aaron Boone, 4-for-his-last-30, came up. Boone had popped up with runners at second and third in the first inning and struck out with runners on first and third in the fourth.

        He ended up grounding out his third time up. But he was feeling better about his approach.

        “Weber's tough. He has a pretty good sinker,” he said. “I just tried to stay relaxed and get a good pitch.”

        Boone drove it into center to make it 3-2. The Angels intentionally walked Todd Walker to get to Branyan. He grounded one to second but beat the relay to first for the double play. That allowed Kearns to score to make it 4-2.

        That turned out to be the winning run.

        “Two RBIs,” Casey said of Branyan's effort. “That's a pretty good first day.”

        The two-run lead turned out to be just enough for the Drama King, Danny Graves, in the ninth.

        “I'm begging for a 1-2-3 inning,” said Graves, who had a Houdini save against the St. Louis Cardinals in the Reds' last win before Saturday. “I pray for it every night.”

Larkin dives into second base with a double as the Angels' David Eckstein waits for the throw. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        Saturday, the prayers went unanswered again.

        Garret Anderson and Brad Fullmer hit Graves' first two pitches for a single and a double. Just like that, it was second and third with no outs.

        “He gets in trouble and gets out,” Bob Boone said. “I don't know how he does it.”

        “My stuff gets better once I get guys on base,” Graves said.

        “I was throwing 89, 90, then all of a sudden, I'm at 95, 96.”

        Graves got Orlando Palmeiro to line softly back to him. That set up the play of the game.

        Bengie Molina hit one into the hole at second. Walker was playing near the bag but made the play to get Molina.

        “From where I was standing, I thought it was a base hit,” Boone said. “Wow. That's as far in the hole as you can get. Gold Glove play.”

        Anderson scored to make it 4-3. But Graves got pinch hitter Jorge Fabregas to ground out and end it.

        “Todd Walker always says I have the best job because I sit around and come in at the end,” Graves said. “After today, he said he changed his mind. My job's too nerve-racking.”

Reds 4, Angels 3 Reds box, runs Reds Q & A Encarnacion fitting right in with Reds Encarnacion hit by ball in practice Griffey's hamstring injury not too serious Reds chatter Cinergy Moment No. 24. - July 22, 1986 Down on the farm Louisville 9, Pawtucket 0 Ramirez closer to returning to Red Sox Saturday roundup John Fay's MLB rankings Notes from Saturday's games

Milford makes statement
Time for football in June
7 athletes strong, Middies win title
Area runners come close, fall short
CovCath exploits LexCath errors
Richards finishes run to the top
Sycamore stopped 1 step from title
Norwood star signs with UC
Prep schedules
McDuffie sues Dolphins doctors
Born to be rivals, they fought for keeps too late
Lewis knocks out Tyson
Marion Jones wins 100 easily into tough wind
Saturday's NCAA Super Regionals
Croatia stuns Italy
U.S. team to enter red cauldron against South Korea
World Cup TV schedule
Attendance, handle records smashed at Belmont Stakes
War Emblem falls short in Triple Crown bid
Defense making the difference for Lakers
Nets hope familiar surroundings help Martin, Van Horn
Nets shooting woes have to end
Da Matta gets first pole at Monterey
GROESCHEN: Cup drivers to highlight Busch race
Marlin shows speed at drying Pocono
Montoya beats Schumacher in record qualifying
Ward wins Boomtown 500
Daniel on verge of major victory
Golf scores
Hiring Trottier a gutsy move
Lidstrom, Hedican win ironman awards
Red Wings 3, Hurricanes 2, 3 OT
Ferrero, Costa meet in all-Spanish final
Serena 'one-hit wonder' no more
At home on the high seas
Coming up this week
Enquirer Page Two power rankings

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