Reds weather scare
Blown lead in ninth doesn’t matter; Castro, Griffey deliver in 11 th
Monday, August 14, 2006
ASSOCIATED PRESS
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</IMG> </TD></TR><TR><TD class=credit width=200>H . RUMPH JR ASSOCIATED PRESS </TD></TR><TR><TD class=cutline width=200>Edwin Encarnacion, left, celebrates with Adam Dunn after Encarnacion homered in the sixth inning against the Phillies, the start of three consecutive homers by the Reds. Dunn and Rich Aurilia followed with home runs of their own to help the Reds build a 5-1 lead. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
PHILADELPHIA — Fresh off a nice win, the Cincinnati Reds were ready for a day off.
Juan Castro and Ken Griffey Jr. drove in runs in the 11 th inning and the Reds recovered from blowing a late lead to beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-5 yesterday.
The Reds held their National League wildcard lead by winning two of three in Philadelphia. Cincinnati starts a three-game series at NL Central-leading St. Louis on Tuesday night.
"It was very important to win this series," shortstop Rich Aurilia said. "We’re going to enjoy the off day and get back to work. That will be another big series for us. In August, every series becomes important."
Reds manager Jerry Narron agreed.
"It’s going to be like this every day until the end of the season," he said. "That’s what makes the game fun. Some might say it’s too early to think about pennant races and scoreboard watching, but this is baseball."
Ryan Howard tied it with two outs in the Phillies’ ninth, hitting an RBI single that made it 5-all. He earlier hit his 41 st home run, matching him with Boston’s David Ortiz for the major-league lead.
Edwin Encarnacion, Adam Dunn and Aurilia hit consecutive home runs in the sixth that put the Reds ahead 5-1.
The Phillies fell four games behind the Reds for the extra playoff spot. Jimmy Rollins had four hits and made a fine play at shortstop to end the 10 th.
"As hard as we play, it seems like we deserve better," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "We had a lot of chances but couldn’t capitalize. You’d think one of these times we’d get the big hit."
Brandon Phillips led off the Cincinnati 11 th with a single against Ryan Madson (10-8). David Ross sacrificed him and Castro, who entered the game in the seventh, doubled. Griffey followed a single for his 1,600 th RBI, 22 nd on the career list.
Bill Bray (3-2) pitched the final two innings to gain the win.
Encarnacion had two hits and drove in two runs, extending his career-high hitting streak to 10 games. In the series, the third baseman had three homers and six RBI.
Encarnacion’s error helped the Phillies score twice in the ninth to tie it against Eddie Guardado. Encarnacion could not come up with Rollins’ hard grounder, and pinchhitter Chris Coste hit an RBI single.
After Chase Utley fanned for the second out, Howard lined a single to right.
Phillies starter Brett Myers had retired eight straight batters before Encarnacion launched a ball deep into the left-center field seats for his 11 th homer of the season.
Dunn followed with a drive into the second deck in right for his team-high 35 th homer and Aurilia followed with his 16 th homer, a shot over the left-center field fence.
"It seemed like it happened real quick, like four or five pitches," Aurilia said. "(Myers) threw more fastballs in that inning and we were able to take advantage of it."
It was the first time since Oct. 2, 2005, that the Reds had accomplished the feat. Felipe Lopez, Dunn and Austin Kearns did it the last time, connecting off St. Louis’ Matt Morris.
One batter after Aurilia homered, Myers hit David Ross on the upper left side. Ross exchanged words with the pitcher as he made his way to first base. The situation quickly calmed down and Myers’ afternoon was finished.
Howard cut the deficit to 5-3 in the sixth with a tworun homer into the left-field seats. He raised his NL-leading RBI total to 105.
Cincinnati took a 2-0 lead in the second, helped by Ryan Freel’s hard slide.
Pitcher Eric Milton doubled off the center-field fence and Freel drew a walk. Scott Hatteberg followed with a grounder to second base that had a chance to be an inningending double play, but Freel’s slide caused Rollins to alter his motion. His throw sailed into the dugout, scoring Milton, and Encarnacion delivered an RBI single. "Freel’s play was big," Narron said. "It seems like a little thing at the time, but it was a huge play in the game."
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