The irony was a little too much for Reds fans to take. Two players the Reds tried to get and couldn't afford - Chuck Finley and Scott Rolen - led the St. Louis Cardinals to a 5-0 victory over Cincinnati in Game 2 of a doubleheader Tuesday at Cinergy Field.

Chuck Finley is congratulated by catcher Mike Matheny after his complete game shutout. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        The Reds won the first game 5-4, but at this juncture, a split is nearly as bad as a loss.

        The Reds remain 7 1/2 games behind the first-place Cardinals in the National League Central. It's getting very late - too late if there's a strike Friday. If the season is played out, the Reds need to go 23-8 to catch St.Louis if the Cardinals play .500.

        Reds fans might have already given up on the pennant race. Only 19,570 showed up for Tuesday's games.

        Finley (5-3), a left-handed starter St. Louis got from the Cleveland Indians after the Reds couldn't complete a deal because of financial reasons, pitched a complete-game, two-hit shutout.

Elmer Dessens stands on the mound after giving up a three-run home run to Scott Rolen in the first inning. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        Rolen, an All-Star third baseman the Cardinals got from the Philadelphia Phillies in the same circumstances, hit a three-run, first-inning homer to break the game open before it really got started.

        Elmer Dessens (7-6), making since his first appearance since straining his groin July 26, wasn't himself in the first. The Cardinals' first five batters reached base against him.

        After Rolen's homer, Dessens settled and pitched well. He only allowed one hit after the first inning.

        Dessens went five innings, giving up six hits and five runs. His earned run average jumped from 2.67 — third-best in the NL — to 2.89.

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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