By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer

After one of their more eventful homestands in a while - three wins, three loses, one rainout, two fights, two sellouts, one Sammy Sosa return - the Reds hit the road today.

They won't be back until July 4, and that's only for a three-game series. Tonight's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks and former Red Elmer Dessens is the first game of a 12-game, 14-day trip.

The Reds play three games in Phoenix, three in St. Louis, three in Cleveland and three in Pittsburgh.

Then they come home for three games with the New York Mets, and that's followed by a seven-game trip - four in Houston and three in Milwaukee - that gets them to the All-Star break.

"We've got three home games before the All-Star break," Reds manager Bob Boone said. "The All-Star break is in, what, two years? That's what it seems like."

Those 19 road games could well decide if the Reds remain in the playoff race.

"It's part of the schedule," Boone said. "It's the longest road trip in two years, but it really doesn't matter. I did all the bemoaning in the winter. You deal with it."

The Reds are 21-19 at home and 15-16 on the road this season.

"We're going to be on the road a long time," Barry Larkin said. "But we've got to try to win each series."

The Reds split their six-game homestand, but it ended on a high note. Friday's 3-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs kept the Reds within three games of the Cubs in the National League Central.

"It was a great series," Boone said. "Really well-played. We had to pitch good to match up with them, and we did. I'm pretty excited about that."