Russell Branyan steals second as the ball gets away from Pirates' Pokey Reese in the fourth inning. (AP Photo/Al Behrman) DESKTOP WALLPAPER Click to load the image, then right-click to Set As Background | WALLPAPER |

        Typical Reds, just a bit more dramatic than usual. They were on the precipice of relinquishing sole possession of first place after 49 days, when Aaron Boone hit a one-out home run in the ninth inning Friday night to tie it and a home run in the 11th to win it.

        The Reds beat the Pirates, 4-3. All four runs came from solo homers.

        "We've been in a little bit of a funk lately, so this was a good win for us,” Boone said.

        Boone, who has been mired in a season-long slump, got his eighth and ninth homers of the year, both off Pirates closer Mike Williams.

        “I didn't think the second one (homer) was going to go out,” Boone said. “It snuck over the wall, and we snuck out of here before 1 (a.m.).”

Elmer Dessens vs. Pirates. (Tony Jones photo) | ZOOM |

        Boone raised his average to .217 with a 3-for-5 night. Going into his ninth-inning at-bat, Boone was in a 7-for-46 tailspin.

        Scott Williamson got the win, Williams the loss.

        The Reds knew all along sole possession of first in the National League Central Division was at stake. St. Louis had beaten Kansas City 3-0, shortly after the Reds had resumed play in the fourth inning following a one-hour and 45-minute rain delay.

        Austin Kearns and Juan Encarnacion had key blows, solo home runs in the seventh and eighth innings, respectively.

Pirates first baseman Kevin Young stretches to get Juan Encarnacion. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        Less than half of the crowd of 30,820 — 6,100 walkup (many of them, no doubt, here for Chris Sabo Bobblehead Doll Night) — were around to see the two no-doubt homers to left field.

        Many of the fans had left during a long rain delay (8:04 p.m. to 10:49) After the delay, out walked the Reds' Elmer Dessens to resume his start in the top of the fourth.

        It might have been wishful thinking to send him back out there.

        But you can't blame Dessens — or Reds manager Bob Boone — for trying. Dessens had whipped through the Bucs before the rain came, giving up four harmless singles and striking out three.

        Dessens came into the game with the second-best ERA in the National League (2.56), and although his record was only 4-3, one could easily imagine him being the Reds' selection to the NL All-Star team, especially if he could reel off three or four more victories in his final five starts before the July 9 classic in Milwaukee.

Reds firstbaseman Sean Casey points as he takes questions from kids participating in the 5th annual Fundamental Baseball camp at Kings High School, Friday. (Michael Snyder photo) | ZOOM |

        And, remember, this is the same Dessens who was 0-3 on April 14.

        But the Dessens that resumed the game Friday wasn't the one who had left it 105 minutes earlier. Oh, he worked his way back to that point, all right, but not before he gave up a sharp, leadoff single to Bucs third baseman Rob Mackowiak and then a two-run homer to right fielder Craig Wilson to put the Reds in a 2-0 hole.

        After the delay, the Pirates didn't return their starter, Kris Benson, to the mound. They pinch-hit for him in the top of the fourth, which is when the game resumed. It was ex-Red Night at the yard. Taking over for Benson in the bottom of the fourth was 1999 Reds wunderkind Ron Villone.

        Villone got his share of boos, too — especially since his opening pitch nearly hit Adam Dunn. But Villone's three innings were critical. He gave up only one hit and struck out five.

        A bright spot for the Reds was the pitching of reliever John Riedling, making his '02 debut. He opened the sixth by easily retiring Wilson, Kevin Young and ex-Red Pokey Reese.

6 year old Joshua Woody of Deerfield Twp. shows off his autographed Sean Casey baseball card. (Michael Snyder photo) | ZOOM |

        It looked as if things might come unglued for Riedling in the seventh, but with two men on (single, and a sacrifice bunt that Riedling misplayed) he got a big double play when a sac-bunt attempt was popped up. Aaron Boone let it drop, and turned it into a double play.

        The Reds generated some excitement in the eighth, when Encarnacion homered to cut it to 3-2.

        The ninth was interesting, too. After Boone homered, pinch-hitter Ken Griffey Jr. walked, pitcher Jimmy Haynes pinch-ran, and Sean Casey drove him to third with a hard single to right. But Barry Larkin lined out to center to end the inning.

        Reese's return to Cinergy Field found catcalls greeting him on every trip to the plate. Every strike call was met with cheers. Reds fans were beside themselves when he was called out on strikes to end the Bucs' eighth.

Reds 4, Pirates 3 Reds box, runs If crowds grow, so do Reds Pete Rose is a hit at ballpark site visit Boone shuts 'em up with his bat Griffey's hamstring improving, so DL out for now Newest Red throws from left side with upside No DH Interleague roundup Notes from Friday's games Lousiville 2, Norfolk 1

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