Adam Dunn looked and felt like Adam Dunn again Saturday. The Reds outfielder homered and doubled in Cincinnati's 5-3, 10-inning loss to the Philadelphia Phillies in the first game of Saturday's day-night doubleheader.

Adam Dunn hits his first Cinergy Field homer since July 30. (Ernest Coleman photo) | ZOOM |

        The double, which he hit harder than the homer, broke an 0-for-14 skid. The homer broke a 25-game homerless drought and a 15-game RBI drought.

        Dunn hadn't homered at Cinergy Field since July 30.

        “It's one of those things,” Dunn said. “I swung at a 3-2 pitch. I don't know why, but I'm glad I did.”

        Dunn has been swinging the bat well the last three days or so. But all he had to show for it before Saturday were some hard outs.

        “Since the second game in Pittsburgh (on Tuesday), I've been feeling pretty good,” Dunn said.

        Dunn and Reds manager Bob Boone had a discussion about hitting before that game in Pittsburgh.

        “He showed me video from the beginning of the season and some from just recently,” Dunn said. “It looked like two different guys.”

        Dunn's slump is an extended one. Before Saturday, he had 16 hits in his last 121 at-bats (.132), dropping his average from .286 to .249.

        Dunn hopes Saturday was a sign that the slump is over.

        “Hopefully, I can continue this for the rest of the year,” he said.

        KEARNS BETTER: Reds outfielder Austin Kearns continues to hold out hope that he can return from the hamstring injury that has kept him on the disabled list since Aug.27.

        “It's better,” he said. “I've been able to do more and pick up the intensity.”

        Kearns hit Friday for the first time since the injury. He hasn't gotten word on whether he'll make the Chicago-Montreal road trip.

        LaRUE RETURNS: Reds catcher Jason LaRue started the second game Saturday.

        LaRue missed two games since suffering a deep bruise in his left calf when Pittsburgh's Brian Giles slid into him Wednesday.

        “It hurts really bad,” LaRue said. “But you're going to have that anytime you have a deep bruise. The best way to describe it is it's like I have a charley horse all the time.

        UP NEXT: The Reds play their final game in Cinergy Field at 1:15 p.m. today. Reds right-hander Jose Rijo (5-3, 5.06) faces Phillies righty Brandon Duckworth (6-9, 5.73).

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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