Reggie Taylor leaves the dugout after Monday's loss. (Michael E. Keating photos) | ZOOM |

        On a day when victory was there to be had, the Reds couldn't grab it. No more tangible example exists for why this hound no longer gains on the fox.

        "We're still in it, but on a day like (Monday), we can also feel it slipping away," Reds pitcher Jose Rijo said. "That's just the way things are in a pennant race. You have to cash in on your opportunities, and when you don't, it hurts. It was right there for us for the taking."

        The Reds faced Houston Astros right-hander Wade Miller in a business-day special before 16,660 at CInergy Field. Miller is 11-3 largely because he rarely beats himself. He wins most of those battles when a little thing done right can be the difference - and when a little thing done poorly can result in a loss at a critical point in the season.

        The Reds didn't have it them in Monday, losing to the Astros 7-5.

        By winning, the Reds might have turned a corner. Maybe winning three of four games from Houston would have dispelled some doubts. Instead, doubt was packed right along with the duffel bags. The Reds begin a three-game series today in Arizona.

Kelly Stinnett waits for the throw as Adam Everett scores. . | ZOOM |

        The Reds fell to 32-32 at home and 19-37 against teams with records at or above .500. They fell to 6 1/2 games behind the first-place St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Central.

        The Reds managed only a split of their 10-hame homsetand and appear to be tightening their grasp on mediocrity while a pennant fades.

        The most glaring of the Reds' lost opportunities occurred in the fifth and sixth innings when they couldn't deliver a man from third base with less than two outs.

        "You don't need a hit to score a guy there," said Reds manager Bob Boone. "We were out-pitched and we couldn't put the bat on the ball when we had to early in the game ... We've got some strikeout guys and we were facing a pretty good strikeout pitcher. It's not like it's easy. But at this level you have to do it (get the bat on the ball) if you're going to win."

Adam Dunn reacts after striking out to end a four-run ninth inning. | ZOOM |

        It would have made a difference late because the Reds rallied in the ninth (three-run Ken Griffey Jr. home run, RBI double by Aaron Boone) and had Adam Dunn at the plate representing the tying run against Astros closer Billy Wagner. Dunn struck out.

        "We made it harder on ourselves in the ninth (because of the earlier failures)," Bob Boone said.

        Here's how:

        • In the third, Kelly Stinnett led off with a single. After Reds pitcher Jared Fernandez (1-3) sacrificed him to second, Todd Walker and Aaron Boone struck out.

        • In the fifth, the Reds trailed 5-1 (the Astros scored four times in the fourth on two walks, a single, sacrifice fly and Lance Berkman's two-run home run) but were within striking distance. However, after Reggie Taylor led off with a triple, the Reds stranded him at third (Stinnett and Russell Branyan struck out and Walker popped out).

        • In the sixth, Boone led off with a double, but Dunn flied out and - after Austin Kearns and Sean Casey walked to load the bases - Barry Larkin popped out to short center and Taylor struck out.

Astros 7, Reds 5 Reds Box, Runs Fernandez sent back to Triple-A Reds Notebook: Griffey contributes any way he can Cardinals 7, Pirates 2 Baseball labor talks move slowly Columbus 10, Louisville 9

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