Elmer Dessens threw seven shutout innings. (Steven M. Herppich photo) | ZOOM |

        Reds manager Bob Boone called them “the scrubeanies.” Kelly Stinnett, one of the scrubeanies, went a step further. “That was the Z-team,” he said.

        But because their A-1 pitcher, Elmer Dessens, was on the mound, and the scrubeanies hit like all-stars, the Reds beat the New York Mets 9-1 before 27,409 fans on a hot and humid day at Cinergy Field.

        The victory kept the Reds within 3 1/2 games of National League Central-leading St.Louis for the ninth straight day. The Cardinals beat Pittsburgh 8-4 on Sunday.

        Dessens went seven shutout innings, allowing four hits and two walks. He struck out four.

        “He pitched another great game,” Boone said. “What he did out there was special. He could have finished it. He had enough left in the tank. But he has to pitch again in four or five days. I didn't want to push it.”

Brandon Larson is greeted by third-base coach Tim Foli after his first major-league HR. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        Dessens, 7-5 with a 2.75 ERA, has pitched 17 consecutive scoreless innings dating to his first start after the All-Star break. In those 17 innings, he has allowed seven hits — one double and six singles.

        Dessens is lights-out in day games. His ERA in those games is 1.46, the best in baseball.

        The Reds were facing New York's ace left-hander, Al Leiter, which explains the reserve-heavy lineup. In order to get as many right-handed hitters in against Leiter, Brandon Larson started in left field, Juan Castro started at second base and Brady Clark started in center field.

        Stinnett caught because it was a day game following a night game. Only shortstop Barry Larkin and third baseman Aaron Boone were in their usual spots.

Juan Castro completes a double play. (Steven M. Herppich photo) | ZOOM |

        A two-out rally in the second showed the Reds were leading a charmed life.

        Larson walked and Stinnett singled. That brought up Castro, who was 0-for-his-last-21 and had one hit all season. He sliced a single into right field to score the game's first run.

        “That was huge for me,” Castro said. “I didn't hit it good. But the ball fell down and I got an RBI.”

        Dessens, a .172 hitter, followed with an RBI single.

        The Reds scored three more runs in the third — one on Aaron Boone's bunt single and catcher Vance Wilson's throwing error, the other two on Stinnett's single.

        “Some guys who needed hits got them today,” Bob Boone said. “It was good to see.”

Brady Clark takes a hit away from Vance Wilson with a running catch. (Steven M. Herppich photo) | ZOOM |

        The five-run lead was safe with Dessens.

        “All my pitches were working, especially my change-up,” Dessens said. “I felt good, strong.”

        Leiter left trailing 6-0 in the fourth. The six earned runs were the most he has allowed all year.

        “He can be really tough,” Boone said of Leiter. “We did a nice job. We kept him out there long enough on a hot day that I think it got to him.”

        Larkin (3-for-4) hit his sixth homer of the season in the fourth. Larson finished the scoring with his first career homer in the seventh.

        “That was awesome,” Larson said.

Reds cross fingers on Rogers Griffey might return tonight Reds 9, Mets 1 Reds Box, Runs Casey in terrible hitting funk Stinnett shakes off cobwebs Grateful Gullett enters Reds Hall Reds-Pirates Series Preview Louisville 5, Durham 4 Finley wins Cardinals debut Giants 6, Dodgers 4 Angels 7, Mariners 5

Puentes wins first Met tennis title
Molony-Hussey taking Met title on tour
Els turns despair into triumph
British Open Scores
Former UC golfer wins Celebrity Classic

• Return to Reds front page...