Wednesday, September 18, 2002
Pirates 11, Reds 3
Reds eliminated in error-riddled loss
By John Fay jfay@enquirer.com
The Cincinnati Enquirer
PITTSBURGH - The Reds, who have been virtually eliminated from the postseason for a month or so, made it mathematically official Tuesday with an ugly, ugly 11-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Reds are fortunate the pennant-race drama was long gone, because Tuesday's loss would have been a tough one to take in a tight race.
“It was embarrassing, I thought,” Reds manager Bob Boone said. “The season is not over. It's 162 games, I think. We didn't come to play tonight.”
The Reds gift-wrapped this one by committing five errors, which led to nine unearned runs. They walked nine batters and hit two others. Three of the errors came in the fourth inning, leading to three unearned runs, which erased a 3-0 lead. It went downhill from there.
“A bad night, a real bad night,” Reds shortstop Barry Larkin said.
The five errors were the most by Reds since May 21, 1990.
Former Red Pokey Reese took advantage of the gifts, driving in a career-high five runs.
Was it the worst loss of the year?
“It's got to be,” Reds second baseman Todd Walker said. “You can't get too upset with the errors and mistakes, but when it's apparent the effort's not there, that's a problem.”
Right-hander Brian Moehler started and pitched well in his first Reds outing since coming off the disabled list with shoulder tendinitis. He went 3 1/3 innings and wasn't great - allowing four hits and walking three - but he deserved better.
All three runs he gave up were unearned, thanks to the fourth-inning debacle.
The Reds took a 2-0 lead in the second, thanks to a home run from Russell Branyan, his 13th with Cincinnati and 21st of the year - a career high.
An out later, Jason LaRue hit one into the left-field bleachers for his 12th homer, equaling last year's career high. The homer extended LaRue's career-high hitting streak to 13 games. .
The Reds added a run in the fourth when Branyan doubled Jose Guillen home. Then it came apart.
The Reds gave the three runs back in the Pirate fourth. Adam Hyzdu reached on third baseman Aaron Boone's error. Moehler then walked Craig Wilson. Pirates pitcher Kris Benson tried to bunt the runners over, but LaRue snapped up the bunt just in front of the plate. His throw would have forced Hyzdu at third, but it went off Boone's glove and down the left-field line. Both runners scored.
That was the end of Moehler's night. Chris Reitsma came in. His second pitch was a wild one, allowing Benson to go to third.
Reese singled on the next pitch to tie it.
Reitsma pitched his way out of further trouble despite a Larkin error on a potential double-play ball.
But Reitsma had a bout of wildness in the fifth. He walked two and hit a batter around two outs. Reese delivered two runs with a line single to make it 5-3.
The Pirates scored six runs on two hits in the eighth. Bruce Chen and Jose Silva combined to walk four, and Adam Dunn committed two two-base errors.
“It's a long season,” Dunn said. “But you've got to play for pride. You can't go out there and look like a Little League team.”
Reds Stories
OSU sensation 'unlikely' for UC game
Bengals figure Patriots did, so can they
Bengals E-Mail Q&A
Falcons waive ex-Bengal Heath
Unitas remembered as mythic hero
Pepper spray use defended
Spurrier's NFL honeymoon ends abruptly
NCAA upholds Kentucky's bowl ban
OSU's Sylvester recovering from gunshot
Xavier women's basketball schedule
St. X, Elder, Colerain hurting in Harbins
Ohio football computer rankings
Elder regains No. 1 in Cincinnati
Dixie still leads Northern Ky. poll
Kentucky statewide football polls
Madeira soccer team may be No. 1 in state
Hat trick boosts Boone Co.
Today's high school schedule
Boys cross country results
Boys golf results
Boys soccer results
Boys water polo results
Girls cross country results
Girls golf results
Girls soccer results
Girls tennis results
Girls volleyball results
Girls water polo results
Ohio statewide volleyball polls
Ohio statewide girls tennis polls
• Return to Reds front page...
Pirates 11, Reds 3
