Juan Encarnacion dives for the ball, stealing an extra-base hit from the Brewers' Richie Sexson in the top of the 9th. (Jeff Swinger photo) | ZOOM |

        A year ago today, Jimmy Haynes was 5-10 as a Milwaukee Brewer, on his way to 17 losses. The Reds were 33-52, 17 1/2 games out of first place and on their way to nowhere.

        Together, their fortunes have greatly changed. Saturday night, Haynes earned his 10th victory as the Reds beat Milwaukee 6-4.

        The Reds closed within one game of St. Louis entering today's final day before the All-Star break.

        Scott Sullivan closed the game, earning his first save since Aug. 14, 2000. It was also the first save by a Red other than Danny Graves this season.

        At 46-40, Cincinnati's winning percentage (.535) is 118 points better than how the Reds finished last season, the biggest increase in the majors this season. At 10-6 (.625), Haynes has a 305-percentage-point jump from his 8-17 mark last year.

        He is the first Reds pitcher to win 10 games by the All-Star break since Tom Browning was 10-5 in 1991. Only three other Reds dating back to 1980 had 10 wins at the break: Jack Armstrong, 11-3 in '90; Danny Jackson, 10-4 in '88; and Frank Pastore, 10-5 in '80.

Jason LaRue is tagged out at 3rd by the Brewers' Jose Hernandez to end the 6th inning. (Jeff Swinger photo) | ZOOM |

        Haynes, an aw-shucks Southern boy from LaGrange, Ga., won't take much credit for the Reds' resurgence. In some respects, he shouldn't: His 4.44 ERA is solid but unspectacular.

        But he has found a comfort level, and the win made him 7-1 with a 3.72 ERA over his last nine starts. He had a career-best four-game winning streak during this run. Prior to that, he had never won more than two consecutive starts.

        The Reds have averaged 5.5 runs in his victories. Many games have been like this one: They got a comfortable 6-1 lead, and the bullpen was steady after Haynes tired — this time in the seventh inning.

        Haynes had a 46-64 career record entering this season, recording a winning record in only one prior complete season: 11-9 for Oakland in 1998. He was one of six men competing for the five starting spots in spring training.

Todd Walker gets tagged out at home plate by Brewers pitcher Jamey Wright as he tries to score on a wild pitch in the first inning. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        He has since risen to the No. 2 spot in manager Bob Boone's rotation, as defined this week by how Boone will set his starters coming out of the break. Elmer Dessens is the ace and will start next Thursday in Houston; Haynes will follow Friday.

        Haynes had three 1-2-3 innings but stranded a total of eight baserunners in three other innings. In the seventh, Richie Sexson touched him up for a two-run homer that ended his night, but the Reds had spotted him a five-run lead beforehand.

        Catcher Jason LaRue was the offensive hero, going 2-for-3 with four RBI. The big blow was a bases-clearing double in the sixth inning. Aaron Boone had a run-scoring single in the fifth, following a LaRue RBI single. Juan Encarnacion had a sacrifice fly in the fourth.

Scott Sullivan pumps his fist after getting his first save of the season. (Jeff Swinger photo) | ZOOM |

        Bob Boone said before the game he was ready to empty his bullpen in these two days leading up to the break, and he held his word Saturday night. He used four relievers -- Bruce Chen, Scott Williamson, Gabe White and Scott Sullivan -- in the seventh and eighth innings.

        Boone had said two starters, Chris Reitsma and Jared Fernandez, were available to pitch, too.

        The Brewers made a curious decision with two outs and the bases loaded in the sixth, trailing 3-1. They chose to leave starting pitcher Jamey Wright in to bat rather than using a pinch-hitter, and Wright grounded into a 6-4 fielder's choice.

Reds 6, Brewers 4 Reds box, runs Reds Q&A The pride of Newberry DAUGHERTY: A strike for 'rights' is wrong Choosing stars no highlight for Brenly Cloudy forecast for Bud Bowl A fast but tenuous start Midseason report Cinergy Moment No. 20 - July 1, 1973 Down on the farm Graves 'Lucky' Griffey's return may come in 2 weeks Reds chatter Relief tempers envy of Yankees' Weaver trade Memories of an American original No funeral services for Kid Bats 3, Clippers 1 John Fay's power rankings AL roundup NL roundup Notes from Saturday's games

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GROESCHEN: Prep Insider

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