Russell Branyan prepares to throw to first. (Brandi Stafford photo) | ZOOM |

        Friday was the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. It sure felt that way for the Reds.

        They can only hope their June swoon has reached its nadir. The Reds' 5-3 loss to Oakland at Cinergy Field, another exercise in offensive futility, extended their losing streak to a season-high five games. All have been at home.

        The Reds have totaled seven runs in five games. They are 2-for-42 (.046) with runners in scoring position during this drought. Friday, they were 1-for-11 in those situations, and that hit was a Todd Walker infield nubber that didn't even score a run.

        What made Friday seem especially dark was the scent of desperation. Reds manager Bob Boone, who had twice on this homestand held team meetings imploring his players to relax, shook up the lineup Friday. Yet the Reds totaled seven hits, but three of them didn't leave the infield.

        The seemingly snakebit team was also undone by a spider bite. Relief pitcher Gabe White was admitted to Christ Hospital with an infection believed to have been caused by such a strike, and his bullpen cohorts surrendered the final three runs Friday.

        It was tied 2-2 when Scott Williamson came on in the seventh in relief of Jimmy Haynes. Williamson surrendered a double down the right-field line to the first batter, Terrence Long. Olmedo Saenz, pinch-hitting in the pitcher's spot, grounded out to second, moving Long to third.

        Then Williamson threw a wild pitch, and Long trotted home.

        The A's blew the game open in the eighth, as John Mabry crushed the first pitch he saw from Scott Sullivan 429 feet for a two-run homer. It was just his second homer of the year.

Reggie Taylor slides safe into home past Oakland's catcher Greg Myers in the 9th inning. (Brandi Stafford photo) | ZOOM |

        It was the second consecutive night the Reds failed to gain ground on St.Louis, which had lost earlier in the day. The Reds remain two games behind the Cardinals. In fact, the Reds haven't gained on them since June 6. Cincinnati is 6-11 in June.

        The Reds' previous season-long losing streak was four games, from May 2-5.

        Bob Boone sat regulars Aaron Boone, Austin Kearns and Sean Casey on Friday. Kearns has been in a rotation of outfielders, so his absence wasn't glaring. Russell Branyan and Reggie Taylor were the somewhat new faces in the lineup.

        Bob Boone said he needed to give those regulars a break: Aaron Boone had one hit in his last 14 at-bats (.071); Casey was 3-for-26 (.115); Kearns was 1-for-17 (.059). He also said, “We need to score more than two runs a game (to win).”

Reds catcher Jason LaRue looks down at home plate as Oakland's Miguel Tejada celebrates a home run in the 4th inning. (Brandi Stafford photo) | ZOOM |

        Casey and Aaron Boone both pinch-hit in the ninth, each grounding out.

        The Reds entered the game batting .218 with runners in scoring position, worst in the major leagues.

        You can't blame this one on Haynes. He met the criteria for a quality start (six or more innings, three or fewer earned runs) for the seventh time, allowing two runs on four hits in six innings. He allowed a solo home run to Miguel Tejada in the fourth, then the A's touched him for a run on two hits and a walk in the sixth.

        Reds shortstop Barry Larkin went 0-for-4, ending his 13-game hitting streak — the team's longest of the season.

        With the game tied 1-1 in the fourth, the Reds took a 2-1 lead on an unearned run in the fourth. Juan Encarnacion and Todd Walker had infield singles, and A's left fielder Dave Justice dropped a Reggie Taylor fly ball for an error. But with runners on first and second and still only one out, Jason LaRue struck out swinging and Haynes grounded out.

        In the ninth, Taylor led off with a single and moved to second on a passed ball, then came home on consecutive ground-outs. Larkin walked, but Adam Dunn struck out to end it.

A's 5, Reds 3 Reds box, runs Reds might give Larson a look Athletics might as well move to NL Infected hand puts Reds' White in hospital Cubs 2, Cardinals 1 Castillo extends hit streak to 35 games Interleague roundup Notes from Friday's games

Xavier picks up guard out of Detroit
Fans get up early, watch U.S. go down
Fans watch World Cup matches in Columbus stadium
Key moments in U.S.-Germany World Cup match
U.S. doesn't blame no-call on hand ball
USA bows out of Cup gracefully
World Cup Schedule
Rakel wins 2nd Women's Met
Cancer survivor Koivu agrees to one-year contract with Habs
Panthers hold No. 1 pick at NHL draft
Bail Out The King wins Churchill feature
Retiring Hall of Famer McCarron wins all-star jockey event
Eagle on final hole gives Thompson second-round lead
Gamecocks, Longhorns set for another title tilt
Greene edges Montgomery in 100 showdown
Stewart drives to pole, his first in 58 races
With no contract, Chiefs TE Gonzalez sets sights on NBA
Amateur baseball results
College World Series results
US Amateur Public Links Sectional
Coming up this week
Wynn, Cupito lead South all-stars tonight

• Return to Reds front page...