Barry Larkin summed it up pretty succinctly. “You saw it,” he said. “I tried to catch them, but I screwed up.”

A dejected Barry Larkin sits in the dugout next to Ken Griffey Jr. after making two errors in the 10th inning Saturday afternoon. (Ernest Coleman photo) | ZOOM |

        The screw-ups led to two errors, which led to two unearned runs, which led to a 5-3, 10-inning loss for the Reds in the first game of Saturday's day-night doubleheader.

        Reds right-hander Scott Williamson (3-4) took the loss after blowing a save for the second time in three opportunities. He entered the game in the ninth with the Reds leading 3-2 but allowed a home run to Bobby Abreu.

        Elmer Dessens started for the Reds and got a tough no-decision. Dessens pitched six innings, surrendering 10 hits and two runs.

        “Elmer was good,” Reds manager Bob Boone said. “He didn't have his best stuff. He battled pretty good.”

Scott Williamson reacts after giving up Bobby Abreu's ninth-inning homer that tied the game. (Ernest Coleman photo) | ZOOM |

        Dessens (7-8) has an ERA of 3.00 but, with one start left, can finish no better than .500.

        The Reds took a 2-0 lead on RBI singles by Kelly Stinnett and Dessens in the second. But that's all the offense they managed off former Red Hector Mercado.

        Mercado went 4 2/3 innings, allowing only three hits and striking out a career-high six.

        “I didn't see a lot of good swings,” Boone said.

        The top five hitters in the Reds' order went 0-for-21.

        The Phillies scored runs in the fourth and fifth to tie it.

        Still, it looked like the Reds were going to win. Adam Dunn hit a two-out homer in the eighth, his first since Aug.24, to make it 3-2.

        Williamson seemed to have his best stuff. He struck out the first batter he faced, Doug Glanville, but Abreu clocked the first pitch.

        Then Larkin, who entered the game with 10 errors this season and led NL shortstops in fielding percentage, booted two fielding chances in the 10th, and Jimmy Rollins hit a based-loaded double.

Reds greats gather for one last Cinergy memory Cinergy's perfect ending? Fans write similar scripts Watch stadium's greatest moments online Game 1: Phillies 5, Reds 3 Game 1: Reds Box, Runs Game 2: Phillies 5, Reds 4 Game 2: Reds Box, Runs Reds Notebook: Dunn ends homer drought Dodgers stay two behind Giants

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