Reggie Taylor (center) is greeted by Todd Walker and Russell Branyan after hitting a three-run, pinch-hit HR in the ninth. (AP photos) | ZOOM |

        DENVER - Brian Moehler and Ryan Dempster, brought to the Reds to fortify the rotation for the stretch run, are having the opposite effect. Moehler got beat around Tuesday night in the Reds' 7-6 loss to the Colorado Rockies before a crowd of 32,780 at Coors Field.

        Even by Coors' standard, Moehler's pitching line - 5 2/3 innings, 13 hits, six runs, one walk, two strikeouts - was not pretty. He is 1-2 with 7.56 ERA as Reds.

        Moehler put the Reds in a hole they couldn't get out of, although they made it interesting, scoring five runs in the ninth on Barry Larkin's two-run single and Reggie Taylor's three-run pinch-hit home run.

        “It's pretty tough to make a run in the ninth,” Reds manager Bob Boone said. “We didn't do much before that. But we always play until the last out.”

Brian Moehler hit the wall in the fourth inning again. | ZOOM |

        Moehler and Dempster are 2-5 with a combined 9.98 ERA as Reds. Since Dempster's first start on July 17, the rest of the Reds staff is 9-3.

        Moehler has given up 29 hits in 16 2/3 innings as a Red. Boone was forgiving Tuesday.

        “I thought he pitched a good game,” Boone said. “At least five of the hits were gorky. (Brent) Butler and (Greg) Norton just flipped balls into the outfield.”

        Moehler wasn't so easy on himself.

        “A hit's a hit,” he said. “It doesn't matter if they're bloops or not.”

        Moehler's rough outing was especially tough to take because the Reds were facing Rockie right-hander Dennis Stark, a rare pitcher who pitches well in the Coors. Stark is 6-0 with 2.30 ERA at Coors.

        Stark went six innings, allowing only three hits. He retired 12 of 13 during one stretch. The sum total of the Reds offensive output against Stark was Adam Dunn's solo home run in the sixth.

Adam Dunn hits his 23rd HR. | ZOOM |

        “The kid was tough,” Boone said. “I thought we were swinging too big. (The Rockies) were using that short swing. Everything was a line drive.”

        The Reds missed a chance to pull within one game of the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Central and fell into a second-place tie with the Houston Astros.

        The Reds are not in solo possession of either first or second place for the first time since April 19.

        Moehler's start was similar to his last one. He was very good for three innings and then very hittable in the fourth.

        His last time out - July 31 against Los Angeles - Moehler only allowed one hit through the first three innings. He then gave up back-to-back homers to start the fourth and allowed a total four runs in the inning.

        Tuesday, he rolled through the first three -- 21 of his first 25 pitches were strikes - but again hit the fourth inning wall.

        Todd Helton started the inning with an infield single that Moehler got his glove on.

        “If I catch that, it's a different inning,“ he said.

        Sandy Alomar Jr. and Jack Cust followed with doubles to make it 2-0.

        But, unlike the start against LA, Moehler didn't settle down. He gave up another run in the fifth.

Ken Griffey flies out. | ZOOM |

        Dunn pulled the Reds within three with a solo shot two outs into the fifth. The 405-foot shot the opposite way to left-center was Dunn's 23rd homer of the year.

        Moehler really lost it in the sixth. After getting the first two outs routinely, he gave up three runs to make it 6-1.

        “One pitch, one out and I'm out of the inning,” he said. “That's the frustrating thing.”

        Gabe White followed Moehler and gave up a run in the seventh. That turned out to be the difference.

        The ninth started with Ken Griffey Jr.'s flyout. Rockie reliever Rick White walked Dunn (his 100th of the year), Austin Kearns and Russell Branyan to load the bases.

        Larkin made 7-3 with a single up the middle. The Rockies brought on closer Jose Jimenez. After Jason LaRue struck out, Taylor hit a three-run, pinch-hit homer to make it 7-6.

        Todd Walker grounded out to end it.

Rockies 7, Reds 6 Reds Box, Runs Reds will get help, Selig says Boone thinks labor deal can be done Mets co-owner says Selig inflated losses Hamilton replaces ailing Dessens Reds Notebook: Casey to test swing in Louisville Bonds hits 599th homer Braves 4, Diamondbacks 3 Phillies 5, Padres 4 Pirates 3, Dodgers 1 Rockies' Stark flourishes in Coors Schott released from hospital Indianapolis 8, Louisville 6

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