Ken Griffey's three-run, ninth-inning home run off Ricky Stone was the fourth pinch-hit round-tripper of the Reds outfielder's career. It tightened the score to 7-4 and forced Houston Astros closer Billy Wagner in from the bullpen.

Ken Griffey Jr. is greeted after his pinch-hit HR. (Michael E. Keating photo) | ZOOM |

        After walking Kelly Stinnett, Wagner struck out Todd Walker with a 99 mph fastball on the outside corner. Aaron Boone ripped a 99 mph fastball to right-center for an RBI double, and Wagner then struck out Adam Dunn on three pitches - 99 swinging, 98 looking and 98 swinging. Ballgame.

        Reds manager Bob Boone likes the liveliness of Griffey's bat when his legs are fresh.

        “As he gets more healthy and has his legs, that affects his bat,” Boone said. “When you run him out there (for nine innings) and beat him down, you lose his legs and then his bat. I knew coming into (the Houston series), we were going to have to quiet down (his sore left hip flexor) for at least four days, and maybe longer.”

        Boone likes using Reggie Taylor in center field during Griffey's absence.

        “He's tracked some balls down and had some pretty big hits for us,” Boone said of Taylor.

        Griffey said he's interested in doing all he can to keep the Reds playing into October.

        “I've told them before, "Whatever you need me to do, I'll do,' ” Junior said. “Pinch-hit me. Put me in for defense late in the game.”

        Griffey said Reds medical personnel will test his hip flexor today.

        Does he feel more of a sense of urgency to return to the lineup given the pennant race?

        Griffey nodded his head affirmatively.

        “You give them all you can give them,” Griffey said. “Anytime you get a chance to get up there and you can put the team back in the game or put it ahead, you've got to do it.”

        GRIFFEY ON BIG UNIT: Junior's words to Brandon Larson last week - on the day before Larson and the Reds faced Diamondbacks left-hander Randy Johnson - bear repeating today. That is because the Reds face the Big Unit again today, in Arizona. Note that what Griffey told Larson proved prophetic:

        “(Johnson's) stuff will range from 85 to 99, occasionally 100. And if you take a big hack, he's going to break his slider off on your back foot. He'll throw you a lot of pitches up here (Griffey held his hand chest-level), but you want the pitches down and away. Don't dive, though, because he's got a control problem. He's been known to hit a few people.”

        Larson, who hit a home run off Johnson but later suffered a broken toe when he was hit by a Johnson pitch, is on the 15-day disabled list.

        KEARNS ON MILLER: Reds right fielder Austin Kearns said Astros starting pitcher Wade Miller (11-3) had the best stuff that he has seen on the three occasions he's faced him.

        “His fastball was exploding, and getting right on you,” Kearns. “He had that big curveball working. Mix in a little cutter, and he's tough. He was working in and out and hitting his spots.”

        GRAVES ON SELF: Reds reliever Danny Graves, who came into Monday's game having posted a 10.80 ERA in his last seven games, pitched two innings of one-run relief.

        “I was beating myself up mentally,” Graves said. “And the more you do it, the worse it gets.”

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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