"That's what a man eats before he goes out and breaks a major-league record," Darren Bragg said.

In Dunn's case, the meal was a Double Quarter-Pounder and large fries. The record was the major-league mark for strikeouts.

Dunn tied Bobby Bonds' record of 189 set in 1970 by striking out swinging in the second inning. He broke it in the fourth when he took a third strike.

He struck out three times on the day. The Reds struck out 19 times - most for the Reds since Randy Johnson struck out 20 May 8, 2001.

Dunn insisted Thursday that the record was not a big deal.

"I don't care," he said. "I really don't. If I was scuffling like I was last year, I'd be ticked."

But Dunn's overall numbers are impressive.

He is hitting .264, up 49 points from a year ago. He has set career highs for home runs (45), RBI (101), runs (103) and doubles (32).

He became the first Red since Joe Morgan in 1976 to have 100 RBI, 100 runs and 100 walks in the same season. That was the second of Morgan's back-to-back MVP years.

Dunn, a former high school quarterback, used a football comparison to explain why he isn't upset with his strikeouts.

"I threw for 5,000 yards and 100 touchdowns. It's meaningless if I have 40 interceptions," he said.

Jose Hernandez was within reach of Bonds' record in 2002, but Brewers manager Jerry Royster stopped playing him toward the end of the year. Hernandez finished with 188.

That was not considered with Dunn.

"I couldn't live with myself if I did that," Dunn said.

BULLY ON BULLPEN: The Reds bullpen pitched 12 innings in the last three games of the series in Chicago and allowed only one earned run (0.75 ERA) on seven hits.

"A lot of guys who were struggling did a great job," Reds manager Dave Miley said. "They got big outs when they needed them."

TICKET EXCHANGE: Fans who originally purchased tickets for Saturday's Barry Larkin Appreciation Day and wish to exchange them for today or Sunday must do so today.

ACE'S TEST: Jose Acevedo passed a major test as a reliever Wednesday when he came on with runners at first and second and no outs.

It was the first time he has come in in the middle of an inning.

Acevedo passed the test.

"He did a great job," Miley said. "Sacrifice fly, double play. He minimized the damage. That inning could have gotten away."

E-mail jfay@enquirer.com

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