By John Fay
Enquirer staff writer

PHOENIX - The way Brandon Webb was pitching, the Reds figured it was good time to roll the dice.

With two outs in the seventh, third base coach Mary Berry sent Wily Mo Pena from second on the Ryan Freel's infield single. Pena was out at the plate in a close play and the Reds were headed for a 2-1 loss to Arizona before a crowd of 35,102 at Bank One Ballpark.

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Brandon Webb played his college ball at UK. (AP photo)

"I don't second-guess it at all," Reds manager Dave Miley said. "Obviously, opportunities were scarce. (Arizona shortstop Alex) Cintron did what he had to do. He knocked it down and made a perfect throw. We came a couple of inches from tying it."

Opportunities were very scarce, indeed. The Reds managed only four hits on the night off Webb (the University of Kentucky) and two relievers.

Webb, 5-14, is usually the victim of non-support. Saturday, Reds starter Aaron Harang was the hard-luck guy.

Harang went six innings, allowing two runs on the six hits, and took the loss.

"I'd rather lose like that in a pitchers' duel than get hit around," Harang said. "Give Brandon Webb credit. He threw a good game tonight."

It was fourth straight quality start for the Reds. It's first time they've strung together that many in a row since July 5-10, when they had a streak of five.

Reds starters have a 1.82 ERA over their last four starts.

Harang, 7-6, has lost three straight decisions. Harang is 3-4 in his 10 starts since returning from the disabled list June 25, despite a 3.49 ERA in those starts.

Harang had pitched well against the Diamondbacks - 2-0, 1.35 ERA - in two starts last year. He was very good Saturday, except for the second inning when he gave up both runs and three hits.

"I was rushing a bit early," Harang said. "My slider wasn't breaking how it should."

The Reds took a 1-0 lead in the second. D'Angelo Jimenez walked with one out. An out later, Jacob Cruz drove one to the wall in left for a double that scored Jimenez.

Harang, who had worked a 1-2-3 first, got in all kinds of trouble in the second. Shea Hillenbrand and Chad Tracy started the inning with back-to-back doubles.

Scott Harrison followed with a walk. Harang struck out Luis Terrero for the first out. That brought up Chris Snyder for his first big league at-bat. He lined one into left to load the bases.

Webb got another run home with a groundout, giving himself a 2-1 lead to work with.

Webb made the lead stand up through seven innings. Webb knows a lot of about trying to get by on meager run support. Going into Saturday, he had held the opposition to two runs or fewer in 10 of his last 14 starts. He went 1-9 over those starts.

The Reds had a chance a chance to tie it in the seventh. Javier Valentin led off with his third walk of the game. The Reds sent up Barry Larkin to pinch-hit for Harang and Pena to run for Valentin. Pena stole second, but Larkin ended up striking out. Ryan Freel followed with a ball to deep short. Cintron had no chance to get Freel. Pena tried to score from second. Cintron's throw to Snyder beat Pena easily, but Pena nearly stepped over the tag.

It was Larkin's 2,159th game as Red, pushing him past Johnny Bench into third all-time. Only Dave Concepcion (2,488) and Pete Rose (2,722) have played in more.

Harang had no problem with the decision, even though he retired seven of the last eight he faced.

"That was fine with me," Harang said. "Miley was trying to win the game. Maybe if I get my bunt down (in the fifth), he lets me hit. But I flailed at the bunt."

Cincinnati	AB	R	H	BI	BB	SO	Avg.
Freel 3b	4	0	1	0	0	0	.279
FLopez ss	4	0	1	0	0	2	.267
Casey 1b	4	0	1	0	0	0	.336
Dunn lf	3	0	0	0	1	0	.275
DJimenez 2b	1	1	0	0	3	1	.256
Bragg cf	4	0	0	0	0	1	.171
JaCruz rf	4	0	1	1	0	1	.235
Valentin c	0	0	0	0	3	0	.224
WPena pr	0	0	0	0	0	0	.254
LaRue c	1	0	0	0	0	0	.254
Harang p	2	0	0	0	0	2	.023
Larkin ph	1	0	0	0	0	1	.307
JoAcevedo p	0	0	0	0	0	0	.053
Vander Wal ph	1	0	0	0	0	1	.158
Totals	29	1	4	1	7	9

Arizona	AB	R	H	BI	BB	SO	Avg.
McCracken lf	4	0	0	0	0	0	.296
Cintron ss	4	0	0	0	0	0	.243
DBautista rf	4	0	0	0	0	0	.303
Hillenbrand 1b	4	1	2	0	0	1	.306
Tracy 3b	3	1	2	1	0	0	.287
Hairston 2b	2	0	0	0	1	0	.274
Terrero cf	3	0	0	0	0	1	.279
Snyder c	3	0	2	0	0	0	.667
Webb p	2	0	0	1	0	1	.098
Baerga ph	1	0	0	0	0	0	.209
Nance p	0	0	0	0	0	0	---
Aquino p	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Totals	30	2	6	2	1	3

Cincinnati	010	000	000	-1	4	0
Arizona	020	000	00x	-2	6	0

LOB-Cincinnati 8, Arizona 5. 2B-JaCruz (6), Hillenbrand (22), Tracy (23), Snyder (1). RBIs-JaCruz (23), Tracy (41), Webb (4). SB-DJimenez (10), WPena (4). GIDP-Freel.

DP-Arizona 1 (Cintron, Hairston and Hillenbrand).

Cincinnati	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	NP	ERA
Harang L, 7-6	6	6	2	2	1	2	81	4.45
JoAcevedo	2	0	0	0	0	1	17	6.26

Arizona	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	NP	ERA
Webb W, 5-14	7	4	1	1	5	5	102	3.70
Nance H, 1	1	0	0	0	2	2	27	3.18
Aquino S, 6	1	0	0	0	0	2	9	3.20

IBB-off Webb (Valentin) 1. WP-Harang.

Umpires-Home, Jerry Crawford; First, Phil Cuzzi; Second, Mike Jost; Third, Rob Drake.

T-2:22. A-35,102 (49,033).