Jimmy Haynes got his 15th win. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        CHICAGO - In his last start before Tuesday night, Jimmy Haynes pitched six scoreless innings only to have John Riedling and Scott Williamson blow the game in relief.

        Tuesday was the same situation.

        But this time Riedling and Williamson made the lead stand up for a 1-0 Reds victory on a cold night at Wrigley Field.

        Riedling had taken the 3-2 loss a week ago after entering the seventh with a 2-0 lead on the Pirates in Pittsburgh.

        “Believe me, that was on my mind,” Riedling said. “I wanted Jimmy to get his 15th. He's pitched so well, and he's had a some blown saves.”

        Riedling pitched the seventh and eighth Tuesday, allowing a hit and striking out two.

        Williamson, who had blown two of his last three save chances, pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his seventh save. The game ended with Ken Griffey Jr. catching an Alex Gonzalez fly ball against the ivy in center field.

        “I've been throwing the ball well,” Williamson said. “I gave up a run in the two games. It's not like I'm in a slump. My defense bailed me out tonight.”

Aaron Boone homered for the only run. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        The Reds' trio of pitchers made a first-inning home run by Aaron Boone hold up all night for the Reds' first 1-0 win over the year.

        “A 1-0 game can be fun,” Boone said.

        The tension helped ease the cold. It was 58 degrees and dropping at the start with a steady wind. The game drew only 28,919, but the bleachers were full.

        The fans were there to see if Sammy Sosa could get to 500 career home runs. He needed two and didn't get any.

        The fans hit the aisles for the exits after Sosa struck out in the eighth for the third time in four at-bats.

        The home run was Boone's second in as many games and his 26th of the year.

        After Boone's home run, the Reds had opportunities nearly every inning. They blew every one. The reason? They went 0-for-14 with runners in scoring position. That included 0-for-12 after getting a runner to second with no outs.

        That should be no surprise. They were facing Kerry Wood, who came into the game 7-1 with a 2.45 ERA against the Reds.

        Wood went seven innings, allowing the one run on the six hits. He walked two and struck out eight.

Haynes has 13 straight shutout innings. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        Luckily for the Reds, the way Haynes was pitching, 1-0 looked pretty good.

        He allowed only three hits in his six innings, while striking out seven.

        Only one runner advanced as far as third base.

        “He's got a really fast arm,” Reds manager Bob Boone said. “That makes his fastball sneaky fast. He throws the breaking ball with the same arm speed. And he's learned to change speeds.”

        Haynes ran his streak of scoreless innings to 13. That pushed his record to 15-9 and dropped his ERA below 4.00 (3.99) for the first time all year.

Reds 1, Cubs 0 Reds Box, Runs Reds Notebook: LaRue irks Boone by hiding injury Sosa strikes out in HR countdown Giants widen wild-card lead Rockies rookie dooms Dodgers D'backs wrap up playoff berth despite loss Mariners stay alive - barely Angels still waiting for playoff clincher

0-3 Bengals eerily familiar
Chat online today with Lorenzo Neal
DAUGHERTY: Bengals simply have no clue
Bengals E-Mail Q&A: Readers are mad
Bucs lose two linemen to injuries
Moss faces felony after night in jail
Hall of Famer Webster dies at 50
UC's Guidugli cited for drinking
Lorenzen has Kentucky rolling along
OSU should have Clarett for Indiana
Ross denies he's leaving Buckeyes
City may get '06 skating nationals
Letter threatens Highlands players
Kings new No. 1 in small-school poll
Elder still atop Div. I poll
No. 1 Dixie faces supreme test
Ohio Football Notebook
Lakota West soccer team rolls on
Dixie Heights golfer No.1 in state
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

• Return to Reds front page...