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GAME LOG
CINCINNATI (AP) -- In two of their three weekend games, the
Cincinnati Reds got to Trevor Hoffman but couldn't get a win.
That's the way their whole season has gone.
Brian Tollberg held Cincinnati scoreless into the eighth and the
San Diego Padres survived another rally against Hoffman before
closing out a 5-4 victory Sunday over the slumping Reds.
"We're playing the same type of games we did last year, when
we'd fight and come back," said Reds catcher Eddie Taubensee, who
had a run-scoring single in a four-run eighth. "But it seems that
this year, lady luck is not on our side."
Cincinnati lost for the 14th time in 18 games and fell a
season-high 8 1/2 games behind St. Louis, which beat Los Angeles 2-1.
It's Cincinnati's biggest deficit in two years.
The Reds play the Cardinals seven times in the next 11 days,
series that have taken on a lot of significance. If the Reds keep
playing the way they have most of the month, they'll be out of
contention soon.
Cincinnati looked listless Sunday and called a clubhouse meeting
-- the second during a 2-4 homestand -- to try to change the Reds'
karma.
"It seemed like we were lethargic today and trying to come back
twice against one of the greatest pitchers in the game is tough,"
team captain Barry Larkin said. "The lack of enthusiasm was
disappointing. We have a couple of tough weeks coming up. We've got
to go out with the right attitude and focus."
The Reds scored three runs in the ninth off Hoffman in the
series opener Friday to tie it, then lost 10-7 on Ruben Rivera's
three-run homer in the 10th. They got another shot at the Padres'
closer Sunday and came up one run short.
The Reds got seven hits off Tollberg (2-0), who struck out seven
in 7 1/3 innings and left with a 5-0 lead and two on. Kevin Walker
gave up RBI singles to Sean Casey and Aaron Boone, preserving the
Reds' distinction as the only major league team yet to be shut out.
The Reds then completed a four-run rally by getting run-scoring
pinch hits off Hoffman. Taubensee's single left him 8-for-15 career
off Hoffman, and Chris Stynes' single made it 5-4 before Juan
Castro flew out to end the nine-batter inning.
In the ninth, Hoffman retired Larkin and Ken Griffey Jr. on pop
ups, then gave up a single to Dante Bichette before striking out
Dmitri Young to secure his 19th save in 21 chances.
"To be honest, we're glad to get out of here with two wins,"
manager Bruce Bochy said. "Like in the first one, they came back
on us, but Hoffy got it done. He had to go through three of their
toughest hitters to get it done, but he got it done."
Tollberg, the 10th Padres starter this season, gave up only one
hit and one unearned run in seven innings as he won his major
league debut 3-1 in Arizona on Tuesday. In his two starts, he has
given up two earned runs and eight hits in 14 1/3 innings with 14
strikeouts.
"If you would have asked me on the day I came up if I expected
this, no way," said Tollberg, who started his career playing for
Chillicothe's independent league team. "I'd have said I'd be happy
just to give them some strong outings and let them make plays
behind me. So it's special."
San Diego squeezed out five runs against Osvaldo Fernandez
(2-1), who struggled with is control in the worst of his eight
starts. Fernandez gave up a season-high in runs, walked five and
allowed seven hits in five innings.
San Diego scored on a double-play grounder by Phil Nevin, a
bases-loaded walk to Nevin, sacrifice flies by Bret Boone and
Carlos Hernandez and a double by Hernandez.
The Padres have played a big role in the Reds' slide, winning
five of their six games in the last 10 days. Boone led the way,
going 6-for-12 in the last three games against his former team with
three homers, seven RBIs and six runs.
Overall this season, Boone was 14-for-34 against the Reds, drove
in 15 runs and hit six of his 12 homers.
Game
notes
Eric Owens leads the NL with 33 multihit games. ... Nevin
has hit into 12 double plays, second in the NL only to Bichette's
13. ... The Padres and the Reds remain the only two major league
teams without a complete game. ... The Reds optioned struggling
starter Rob Bell to Triple-A Louisville. They're expected to call
up reliever Scott Winchester on Monday. Either Elmer Dessens or
Manny Aybar will start Wednesday against St. Louis. ... With Pokey
Reese sidelined by a sprained ankle and Stynes slowed by a sore
hamstring, Castro made his first start of the season at second
base.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
San Diego Clubhouse
Cincinnati Clubhouse
Reds shake up rotation, ship Bell to minors
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