Reds starter Brian Moehler reacts after giving up a two-run home run to Quinton McCracken in the first inning. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        PHOENIX - The Reds' rapidly diminishing chances of making the post-season were apparent early in Wednesday night's 11-2 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks at Bank One Ballpark.

        About the time they posted an "F" next to St. Louis and Houston scores on the out-of-town scoreboard -- indicating the scores were final - the Diamondbacks were giving Curt Schilling a six-run lead. The scoreboard said the Cards had beaten Pittsburgh 4-1, and the Astros had beaten the Chicago Cubs 4-0.

        So, barring a most unlikely comeback against baseball's only 20-game winner, the Reds would wake up today a season-high 7 1/2 games behind the Cards and 2 1/2 games behind the Astros in the National League Central.

        There was no miracle comeback. Schilling limited the Reds to five hits over seven innings for the victory before a crowd of the 37,080.

        "A 6-0 lead against Schilling - nothing against our guys - but it's pretty much insurmountable," said Reds starter Brian Moehler, who gave up the six runs.

        The Reds are only one game over .500 at 63-62. They've have lost five straight to Arizona this year and 10 straight overall. They are 2-7 so far on this critical stretch of 23 games — including 20 against Arizona, Houston and St. Louis.

        "We're playing like (bleep) right now," said reliever Jose Rijo. "We can't beat nobody. We're not doing the little things to win, like Arizona. They're the World Champs and they're doing the little things.

        "We've got so many guys hurt, so many guys struggling ... "

        Time isn't on the Reds' side. Consider: If the Cardinals play .500 ball, the Reds must go 27-11 just to tie them - if no games are lost to a strike.

        The Reds got a pretty early indication that Wednesday wasn't going to be easy. Schilling (21-4) retired the Reds in the first innings on four pitches - all strikes. He didn't throw a ball until his 15th pitch of the game. It was the third inning by then and D'Backs were up 6-0.

        "You've got to be a good hitter," Reds manager Bob Boone said. "You're facing the best. If you want to do a video on mechanics, use Schilling. He drives his hand right into the catcher's glove and the ball follows it."

        Congrats to Sean Casey: He drew the 20th walk of season off Schilling in Schilling's 21st win.

        Austin Kearns had three of the Reds' six hits, including his 12th home run of the year 435-foot shot to left-center in the ninth. Kearns is hitting .315 now and has four home runs in his last six games.

        The night after Ryan Dempster hung with Randy Johnson pretty well, Moehler didn't give the Reds a chance against Schilling.

        "Bad day at the office," Moehler said. "I have one of those a year."

        Tony Womack led off the Arizonas first with a single. Quinton McCracken followed with a home run to right field. The Diamondbacks added another run in the first and three in the second.

        Steve Finley, the Red nemesis, had three hits and three RBI.

        Schilling needed seven pitches to get through the second.

        "You can't take pitches," Boone said, "or you fall behind and he throws that splitter."

        Moehler was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the third. He went two innings, allowing six runs on seven hits. It was easily his worst outing as Red. He had gone at five innings in his other five starts.

        He was coming off his best start as a Red, in fact. He had allowed only one unearned run and four hits over seven innings in a 9-3 win over Houston on Friday.

        "Not much was coming out," Boone said. "That's a function of the surgery. You see it with all the guys coming back for surgery."

        Moehler had shoulder surgery July 4 of last year. He didn't return to the majors until July 2 of this year.

        "I don't have any pain," he said. "But that last little finish, zip, isn't there."

        The Reds didn't manage a hit off Schilling until Kearns led off the fifth with a triple into the right-field corner. The hit extended Kearns hitting streak to eight games. He has hits in 24 of 27 games.

        Kearns would score on Reggie Taylor's groundout to make it 8-1.

Diamondbacks 11, Reds 3 Reds Box, Runs Kearns hitting beyond his years Schilling strikes down Reds quickly Reds Notebook: Griffey misses another start Owners give ground on revenue sharing Boone optimistic about avoiding strike Bowden may face another fine Cardinals 4, Pirates 1 Astros 4, Cubs 0 Dodgers 4, Marlins 3, 10 innings Giants 3, Mets 1 Braves 6, Padres 3 Expos 13, Rockies 5

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