Reds starting pitcher Elmer Dessens. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        PITTSBURGH — The Reds are alive. Well, they're alive only in the sense that if they win their last 12 games and the St.Louis Cardinals lose their last 13, the two teams would finish in a tie in for the National League Central.

        And the Houston Astros would have to pull a similar fold job.

        OK, so the Reds aren't really alive. But they did stave off elimination by coming back to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3 Monday before the smallest crowd in PNC Park history (10,751).

        And they showed they won't mail it in, putting Ken Griffey Jr. in the field for the first time in 2 weeks.

        “We're not going to make the playoffs,” Griffey said. “But we still have a chance to finish over .500.”

        Reggie Taylor drove in two runs, and Griffey set up the game-winner by dropping a single into left against the shift.

Pokey Reese rounds third base after hitting a two-run homer in the third inning. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        “That was huge,” Reds manager Bob Boone said of Griffey's hit.

        A sore hip flexor/quadriceps had limited Griffey to six pinch-hit appearances over the last 15 games.

        Right-hander Jose Silva (1-0) picked up the win, his first as a Red, with two innings of scoreless relief.

        Scott Williamson pitched the ninth for his fifth save in as many attempts, finally retiring Adrian Brown after a 13-pitch marathon that featured seven consecutive foul balls.

        “It was a battle,” Williamson said. “I wasn't going to give in. He wasn't going to give in.”

        Williamson threw strictly heat. Twelve of the 13 pitches to Brown were fastballs, and all but two were 96 mph.

Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson throws from his knees after making a diving stop on a ground ball by Jose Guillen. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        With the performance, Williamson ran his scoreless streak to 21 innings. His ERA since the All-Star break is 1.03, a span in which he's pitched 35 innings, allowing 14 hits and striking out 39.

        Right-hander Elmer Dessens started and went five innings for the Reds, allowing three runs on four hits, including a two-run blast to former Red Pokey Reese.

        Dessens has given up nine homers in his five starts since coming off the DL on Aug.27, and 19 runs overall.

        Reese scored the game's first run in the first inning, but the Reds tied it in the third, when Aaron Boone brought Todd Walker home with a double. Walker's hitting streak sits at 12 games.

Rob Mackowiak is tagged out by Reds shortstop Barry Larkin while trying to steal second in the bottom of the ninth inning. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        Reese got the lead back in the Pirate third with his fourth homer of the year .

        The Reds made it 3-2 in the fourth when Taylor singled in Ruben Mateo, then tied it in the seventh on Boone's sacrifice fly that scored Taylor.

        After LaRue worked a one-out walk in the eighth, the Reds sent Griffey up to pinch-hit. The Pirates countered by bringing in left-hander Ron Villone and putting the shift on.

        “He was pitching me away,” Griffey said. “In that situation, if you get runners on first and third, you put the pressure on them.”

        Griffey did just that by punching a single to left.

        LaRue scored when Taylor singled.

Reds 4, Pirates 3 Reds Box, Runs Baseball's Battle of Ohio reprised Boone hoping DL stint gave Moehler some zip Special ball will commemorate Cinergy Field Yanks' Rivera nears return Glaus homers in four straight at-bats Athletics 4, Angels 3 Dodgers 7, Giants 6 Notes from Monday's games

Bengals fight, not 'giving up'
Bengals notebook
Defense's ranking rises
Frerotte's starter status under review by LeBeau
Falcons guard out 6-8 weeks with broken bone in foot
Bledsoe a cut above in leading Bills to stunning win
Collins nears record
Couch says he's ready to start
Dilfer aims for new winning streak
NFL shocker: Rams, Steelers are 0-2
McNabb throws TDs, Spurrier throws visor
Police use pepper spray to break up fight on MNF
Spurrier in constant communication with QB transmitter
No rest for weary Bearcats defense
At least for now, OSU fans have a new favorite
Kentucky sets sights on 4-0 for first time in 18 years
Kentucky to hear results of bowl ban appeal Tuesday
Smith sweating out Louisville's start
Michigan has no history with its next opponent
Secret out on Penn State's Robinson
Daughter of Mr. Greely takes top price at Keeneland
Medoland Miracle wins again
Americans hope to master clay in Davis semis
Woods back, Mickelson makes debut at Skins Game
Baseball Calendar
NBA Calendar
NFL Calendar
NHL Calendar
XU opener on ESPN2
For Cook, it's great to be back
Kentucky powers open season on top
Boys golf results
Girls golf results
Boys soccer results
Girls soccer results
Field hockey results
Girls tennis results
Girls volleyball results
High school polls
Today's games

• Return to Reds front page...