You could tell it was not an ordinary game when Reds manager Bob Boone went out to get start Brian Moehler in the third inning. Moehler had a two-run lead and the bases were empty at the time. But Boone was taking no chances.

Sean Casey scores on a passed ball by Cardinals catcher Mike DiFelice in the second inning. (Jeff Swinger photo) | ZOOM |

        “We've got to play this like there's no tomorrow,” Boone said. “We'll be tired when it's over.”

        The strategy worked. The Reds won the first game of the doubleheader with the St. Louis Cardinals 5-4 Tuesday night at Cinergy Field. They did so by building an early lead and hanging for dear life. Turning five double plays helped.

        It took a couple of extraordinary plays in the ninth inning to do it, but the Reds survived.

        The ninth was one of the more exciting and exhilarating innings of the year for the Reds. J.D. Drew led off with a grounder deep into the hole at shortstop off closer Danny Graves. Barry Larkin made a great play just to get to the ball and then turned and made a strong throw to get Drew by a step.

        “You can't make a better play than that,” Graves said.

Cardinals SS Miguel Cairo reaches back to try to tag Adam Dunn after Dunn hit a double in the second inning. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        Jim Edmonds and Albert Pujols followed with back-to-back infield hits. Todd Walker made a diving stop on Edmonds' ball, and Aaron Boone made a diving stop on Pujols' ball.

        “I had everyone diving out there,” Graves said. “I got the whole infield involved.”

        He gave Boone another shot by getting Scott Rolen to hit a shot to him at third. Boone stepped on the bag and threw to first to complete the double play and end the game.

        “A couple weeks ago,” Graves said, “those balls get through and they score 10 runs.”

        The game didn't start out like a a nail-biter. It looked, in fact, like the Reds would break it open in the second inning.

        The first five runners reached base against Jason Simontacchi. The Reds scored five runs before they made an out. But Simontacchi got out of it by fielding a line drive off the bat Austin Kearns and turning an inning-ending double play.

        Two batters - Albert Pujols and Scott Rolen - reduced it to 5-3 by starting the third with back-to-back home runs off Moehler.

        Boone replaced Moehler with Chris Reitsma, who entered knowing this would be his last outing as Red for a while. Reitsma was sent to the minors after the game to make room for Game 2 starter Elmer Dessens.

        Moehler couldn't be trusted to hold the lead. Moehler was coming off an outing in Arizona in which he gave up six runs in two innings. His stuff was no better Tuesday.

        “There wasn't a whole lot coming out,” Boone said. “His velocity has dropped.”

        Moehler is a little more than a year removed from shoulder surgery, so he might be in the dead-arm period. Whatever it is, you don't want him on the mound in the middle of pennant of race.

        Reitsma didn't start much better. He gave up back-to-back doubles to make it 5-4.

        Scott Williamson and Scott Sullivan pitched a scoreless inning before Graves took over to pitch the ninth for his 30th save.

Game 2: Cardinals 5, Reds 0 Game 1: Reds 5, Cardinals 4 Reds Box, Runs: Game 2 Reds Box, Runs: Game 1 Fans vow to strike back Selig to join labor talks Kearns could be finished for season Reds Notebook: Reitsma sent down after win Finley finds peace in St. Louis More softball tickets available Bonds hits three homers Angels 7, Devil Rays 3 Dodgers 6, Diamondbacks 1 Padres 11, Astros 6 Toledo 5, Louisville 0

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