Matt Williams checks on Reds catcher Jason LaRue after fouling off a pitch that hit LaRue during the second inning. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        PHOENIX — The Reds are just your average team now. Thursday's 6-3 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks dropped Cincinnati's record to 63-63. It's the first time the Reds haven't been above .500 since they were 8-8 on April 19.

        The world champion Diamondbacks completed a six-game season sweep of the Reds in which they outscored Cincinnati 42-14. Overall, Arizona has taken 11 straight from the Reds.

        The Reds have lost eight of their last 10 games — not a good start to a 23-game stretch that manager Bob Boone said would “define” his team.

        The Reds knew by the fifth inning that a loss would mean dropping another game behind St.Louis and Houston in the National League Central. The first-place Cardinals scored three runs in the ninth to beat Pittsburgh 5-4, and the Astros beat the Chicago Cubs 9-1.

        So, with the loss, the Reds fell a season-high 8 1/2 games behind St.Louis and 3 1/2 games behind Houston.

        Chris Reitsma's first start since July 20 wasn't a good one. Reitsma (4-9) went five innings, allowing five runs on five hits. After the Reds gave him a 3-1 lead, he gave it back before getting an out.

        Reitsma retired the first six D'backs he faced. Steve Finley, naturally enough, broke the string with a home run to lead off the third. It was Finley's fourth home run and 11th RBI against the Reds this year.

        The Reds threatened against Arizona starter Miguel Batista in the second and third.

        They loaded the bases with three walks in the second, but Reitsma took a called third strike to end the inning.

        The real missed opportunity came in the third, when the Reds loaded the bases with no outs. But their only hot hitter, Austin Kearns, struck out and Sean Casey hit into an inning-ending, 1-6-3 double play.

Reds pitcher Chris Reitsma adjusts his cap after giving up a solo home run to Steve Finley during the third inning. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        The Reds finally turned a threat into runs in the fourth. Russell Branyan led off and reached on Batista's error. Reggie Taylor followed with a double.

        Jason LaRue drove in both runners with a drive high off the wall in dead center for a triple. Reitsma slapped a single to score LaRue and make it 3-0. Reitsma went to second on a balk, but he was stranded there as the top of the Reds' order — Todd Walker, Aaron Boone and Adam Dunn — all grounded out.

        Reitsma did exactly what pitchers don't want to do once they get a lead: He walked the first two batters in the fourth. Erubiel Durazo, the next hitter, just missed a three-run homer, but both runners advanced on his fly ball to the warning track in right.

        Matt Williams lined the first pitch he saw into left for a two-run single. Just like that, it was 3-3.

        The Reds loaded the bases again in the fifth with no outs. But it was a repeat of the third — only with different players. Taylor struck out this time, and LaRue hit into a double play.

        The Reds lost the lead in the fifth. Chad Moeller led off with a double. An out later, Tony Womack crushed Reitsma's pitch to right for his third homer of the year. D'backs 5, Reds 3.

        Arizona added a run off Reds left-hander Bruce Chen in the sixth as Moeller singled to left, scoring Williams. Moeller tried to stretch his hit into a double, but he was thrown out by LaRue, ending the inning.

D'Backs 6, Reds 3 Reds Box, Runs Sullivan OK, itching to pitch It's make-or-break time for Reds Reds at Astros series preview Labor talks moving slowly Fox's Goren on strike: 'A deal to be made.' Astros 9, Cubs 1 Cardinals 5, Pirates 4 Phillies 7, Brewers 0 Astros bolster bullpen with Flash Gordon Toledo 6, Louisville 4

At training camp, competition and camaraderie forge a team
Bengals training camp by the numbers
Farmer returns, hamstring and all
Grass-roots effort working well at Paul Brown Stadium
He's the one who brings bad news
Chargers 31, Rams 10
Rams fullback fractures left foot in preseason game
Edgewood wins opener
Badin crushes Wyoming
Kentucky football preview
This week's football preview
Prep football schedule
Kentucky boys soccer preview
Kentucky girls soccer preview
Ohio girls soccer preview
Turpin seeking 3-peat in D-II
Boys golf results
Girls golf results
Girls tennis results
Soccer results
Coaches, call us
DAUGHERTY: That buzz you hear is UC's QB
Big-time football gets even bigger
Buckeye back bangs heads
Colorado St. 35, Virginia 29
Miami LB Jones adds bulk, eases pain
A look ahead at the U.S. Open
Coach to the stars sizes up U.S. Open
Williams, Davenport advance to semifinals
Lights, camera, action
Worcester knocks off Harlem
Goose, Izawa lead NEC Invitational
Links champion Moore lurks as field is whittled to eight
O'Neal says he never agreed to host kids camp
U.S. bid has IOC in mind
United States 84, China 54
'Wild man' label suits Busch fine

• Return to Reds front page...