The Reds' series with the Seattle Mariners is so full of subplots — the Boone Family Reunion; Sweet Lou comes back; Ken Griffey Jr.vs.his old club; the return of a slew of former Reds — that it's easy to overlook the fact it gives Cincinnati a chance to see how it stacks up against one of baseball's best teams. Not very well, based on Tuesday's game.

The Mariners' visit reunited brothers, friends and former teammates. Here, Aaron Boone stands on second base beside his brother, Mariners 2B Bret Boone, in the fourth inning. (Brandi Stafford photo) | ZOOM |

        After the Reds spent the night squandering opportunities, the Mariners took advantage of theirs and won 8-1 before 26,654 at Cinergy Field.

        As a result, the Reds will wake up today out of first place in the National League Central for the first time in 53 days. They are one game behind the St.Louis Cardinals, who beat the Anaheim Angels 7-2.

        The Reds came in hitting .224 with runners in scoring position and went 0-for-10 against the Mariners. Seattle, meanwhile, came in hitting .308 with runners in scoring position and went 5-for-7.

        Reds manager Bob Boone thinks the difference is largely a matter of experience.

        “Part of it is we've got guys in a pennant race for the first time,” he said. “They're trying to do too much.”

        Boone was concerned enough to call a short team meeting after the game.

        “It wasn't jovial,” Reds shortstop Barry Larkin said of the meeting's tone. “It was, "Relax, guys.'”

Adam Dunn, coaches Ray Knight and Don Gullett and manager Bob Boone hang their heads in the ninth inning. (Brandi Stafford photo) | ZOOM |

        The Reds' offense is pretty much stuck in the mud right now, averaging 2.8 runs over the last five games. They've scored more than four runs in a game only once in their last 11 games.

        “We're struggling,” Larkin said. “We know it. Guys are trying too hard. That's what we do. That's why we struggle.”

        The loss dropped the Reds to 16-21 against teams currently over .500.

        The Reds mounted threats in six innings. But they scored only once, and that came on a double-play groundout.

Ichiro Suzuki hustles down the line. (Brandi Stafford photo) | ZOOM |

        Outfielder Austin Kearns, one of the Reds youngsters in a pennant race for the first time, left five runs in scoring position. He struck out twice and grounded into an inning-ending double play.

        “It was a rough night for Austin,” Boone said. “He wasn't seeing the breaking ball very good.”

        Kearns wasn't the only young guy who had a tough night. Outfielder Adam Dunn struck out with runners at first and third and with the bases loaded. Catcher Corky Miller came up twice with runners at first and third but hit into a double play and popped out. He also dropped a ball at the plate that would have prevented a run from scoring.

        But this was a team loss for the Reds and a team win for the Mariners.

        “They're a tough ballclub,” Boone said. “I watch them a lot because of (my son) Bret (Boone). They ping you. That's something we have to learn to do.”

John Olerud slides home as Reds catcher Corky Miller loses the ball in the sixth inning. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        The Reds threatened in the first. Sean Casey reached on a one-out walk. Griffey, in the starting lineup for the first time in nine games, followed with a little nubber back to Seattle pitcher Joel Pineiro. Griffey beat it out for the 2,000th hit of his career, thus becoming the 29th player in history to have 2,000 hits and 400 home runs.

        The rally, however, fizzled when Dunn and Kearns both struck out.

        The Reds took a 1-0 lead in the second when Aaron Boone scored on Miller's double-play ball.

        But it didn't last long. The Mariners scored two runs off Reds right-hander Chris Reitsma (3-4) with three consecutive two-out hits in the third.

        The Mariners cashed in big time with four runs in the sixth, the last two scoring on Pineiro's first big-league hit. That made it 6-1 and ended Reitsma's night.

        The outing was arguably Reitsma's worst of the year. He went 5 2/3innings, allowing six runs on seven hits.

Mariners 8, Reds 1 Reds box, runs Griffey's return soured by loss Griffey still not 100 percent Sweet Lou glad to be back DAUGHERTY: Piniella managed with fear Mariners visit begins with hugs, handshakes Hall of Fame plan completed Gullett finds Chen's problem Reds Notebook: McKeon reassigned Broadcaster Jack Buck dies Devil Rays 8, Giants 3 Blue Jays 2, Dodgers 1 Diamondbacks 6, Orioles 3 Red Sox 4, Padres 2 Yankees 10, Rockies 5

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