Ryan Dempster gave up four runs and nine hits in seven innings. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        Tired of beating himself up early and allowing the consequences to multiply, Ryan Dempster returned to the old neighborhood formula -- get on top of the ball, drive through to the plate and keep the ball down in the strike zone -- to look more like the pitcher the Reds thought they had traded for three weeks ago.

        The result: a 12-4 Reds victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers before 23,804 fans Tuesday at Cinergy Field.

        “When I first came over (to the Reds), I was thinking the wrong things when I was going out there,” Dempster said. “This game can be so simple if you treat it that way. For a pitcher, that means making one pitch at a time. You can't always control it if they get 10 base hits in a row. All you can do is try to keep putting the ball where you want to put it.”

Austin Kearns and Brandon Larson celebrate Larson's HR in the 4th inning. (Brandi Stafford photo) | ZOOM |

        What were some of those “wrong things” he'd been thinking?

        “Looking back at the last start, I put the team down 2-0 in the top of the first inning, and I was thinking, "You're not doing your job,' instead of what I should have been thinking: "Execute the next few pitches. Just concentrate on the task at hand,”' Dempster said. “That's what kills you.”

        It was crooked-number night at the old ballyard, as the Reds posted two runs in the first (Ken Griffey Jr.'s two-RBI single), one in the second (Jason LaRue's solo home run), five in the third (Todd Walker's RBI single; then Walker and LaRue scoring on the same passed ball, and a two-run HR by Aaron Boone) and two in the fourth (Brandon Larson's two-run HR). That made it 10-0 Reds.

        “I'll take that run support any time,” said Dempster. “I told Gravy (Reds closer Danny Graves): "Man, it feels like forever since I won a game.' And then, I realized, it had been forever.”

Ryan Dempster consults with catcher Jason LaRue. (Brandi Stafford photo) | ZOOM |

        Although Dempster had pitched abysmally in his first three Reds starts, his teammates hadn't exactly constructed him a whoopee cushion of runs to work with, scoring a total of 11. Tuesday night, the Reds scored 11 runs in six innings.

        Dempster (6-11, 1-3 as a Red) showed that he knew what to do with a lead, giving up only two walks in his seven innings, and shutting out the Dodgers in five of those innings (four runs, nine hits and four strikeouts for the night). Although he got behind in the count early in the game, Dempster gave Dodgers hitters enough of the strike zone down low to allow them to get themselves out.

        “He was down in the zone and pretty much nasty,” said catcher LaRue, noting that this was more like the guy he faced in previous seasons when Dempster was a Florida Marlin.

        Dempster's fastball continually registered 92-93 miles per hour, his slider was sharper than it had been in his other Reds starts and -- most importantly -- he kept the ball down.

LaRue slides home on catcher Paul Lo Duca's passed ball in the third inning. (Brandi Stafford photo) | ZOOM |

        The Reds broke the game open with their five-run third inning.

        After Austin Kearns walked and stole second (advancing to third on a wild throw by Dodgers catcher Paul Lo Duca), Larson struck out looking.

        That's when the fun began.

        Walker singled Kearns home, and LaRue walked. Dempster advanced them to third and second, respectively, with a nice bunt on the left side. With Barry Larkin at the plate, Dodgers left-hander Kazuhisa Ishii (12-7) threw a pitch that got by Lo Duca for a passed ball, allowing Walker to score from third. LaRue, running hard around third, saw on the way home that LoDuca's throw had gotten by Ishii, and realized he had a shot.

        “I saw where (Dodgers first baseman) Eric Karros was (on the overthrow) and I was pretty sure I had it,” LaRue said.

        Swoosh, he went safely across home plate, just behind Walker.

        With the win, the Reds remained five games behind the first-place St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Central Division.

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