Manager Bob Boone greets Adam Dunn after the Reds' 8-5 win. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        ARLINGTON, Texas — Adam Dunn felt right at home in Texas. Dunn, once one of the state's top high school quarterbacks, hit a pair of two-run homers to lead the Reds to an 8-5 win over the Texas Rangers on Tuesday night.

        “I wanted to play well with a lot of people in the stands. It's a good feeling,” said Dunn, who had about 30 relatives and friends at the game. “I've been working real hard in the batting cage, and starting to see a difference.”

        Dunn's homer in the first off Kenny Rogers (7-4) put the Reds ahead to stay. His second homer, and 13th of the season, came in the seventh off rookie reliever Randy Flores, also an opposite-field shot.

        “He can hit them anywhere. He doesn't have to try to pull the ball,” Reds manager Bob Boone said. “He has showed us he's something special.”

        Rogers lasted just four innings, matching his shortest outing of the season. He gave up five runs — three earned — on six hits and made a throwing error.

        “That's just the way it is sometimes,” Rogers said. “I wasn't crisp on my location. I don't feel like I made a lot of mistakes, but they were able to hit them. I only had one pitch that I wish I could have back and that was the homer to Dunn.”

        NOTES: The only other two-homer game for Dunn was April 28 against San Francisco... Deion Sanders, who played for the Reds and the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, attended the game. Sanders, who still lives in the Dallas area, wore a Cincinnati cap as he sat with former Cowboys receiver Michael Irvin by the Reds dugout... Texas shortstop Alex Rodriguez has gone five games without an RBI, his longest drought since the first five games of the season. ... RHP Jay Powell, activated from the 60-day disabled list Monday, pitched a perfect eighth in his first appearance for Texas since signing a $9 million, three-year contract last winter.

Reds 8, Rangers 5 Reds Box, Runs Dunn rewards relatives, friends Improving Larson hopes he's part of Reds' plans Riedling ready to contribute Reds Notebook: Griffey could start today Cardinals 7, Mariners 4 Pirates 7, Angels 3 Cubs 9, Astros 5 Athletics 11, Brewers 2

Bengals offer deal to Westbrook
Xavier narrows coaching search
Shaq holding the broom this time
Martin vows Nets won't quit
Speedway expects sellout for Busch race
Tiger's up for another Open test
Goosen's a grateful Open champ
U.S. Open Notebook
U.S. Open tee times
Poland out to stop U.S. advance
'Les Bleus' red in face at World Cup
Hasek may soon hoist Cup
Williams won't fight until fall
Father-son tourney starts today at Lunken
Coming up this week

• Return to Reds front page...