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CINCINNATI (AP) -- Down to their final out in the eighth, the
Colorado Rockies found a way to score three runs and pull one out.
Darren Bragg thinks that says a lot about the kind of team
they've become.
Neifi Perez and Bragg singled home runs and Ken Griffey Jr.'s
throwing error let in another as the Rockies rallied for a 6-4
victory Wednesday over the slumping Cincinnati Reds.
"That's what happens when you've got a good ballclub," said
Bragg, who drove in the go-ahead run with his first pinch hit since
May 1. "You can't give in. That's the way you've got to play the
game. That's what we seem to be doing."
Colorado got its eight victory in 11 games by taking advantage
of another wild performance by reliever Scott Williamson (2-4),
who's been unable to duplicate his NL Rookie of the Year season.
The Rockies won it by patiently stringing together two walks, a
wild pitch, the two singles and Griffey's throwing error -- a
mistake that overshadowed the center fielder's two outstanding
defensive plays in the game.
"We've been able to do things late in the game," said Gabe
White, who pitched one perfect inning in relief. "That's really
cool. We've got an exciting ballclub right now.
"That's why we're at the top right now instead of the bottom.
Nobody gives up. Nobody quits."
The Reds can't seem to quit blowing leads. They've lost 12 of
14, a tailspin that's dropped them 6 1/2 games behind St. Louis in the
NL Central.
They've fallen into the pattern of either falling behind early
because of poor starting pitching or giving up a lead at the end
because of a bullpen meltdown.
"We've had that happen four or five times in the last 10 or 12
losses," manager Jack McKeon said. "We've had a lot of games this
year where we've had a lead and just couldn't hold it."
Denny Neagle turned a 4-3 lead over to the bullpen, but was
victimized by a blown save for the third time this season.
Williamson walked Jeff Cirillo opening the eighth, threw his
NL-leading 13th wild pitch and walked Brent Mayne with two outs.
Perez singled to left to tie it and Bragg singled sharply up the
middle.
Griffey, who made a diving catch to start a pivotal double play
in the series opener and two more outstanding plays Wednesday,
dropped the ball as he tried to field it for a play at the plate.
He then threw wildly to third for an error that sent Perez home.
Bragg was hitless in his last 12 pinch-hit at-bats, but had a
little personal history going for him in the eighth. Last July 8
for St. Louis, he hit a two-run homer in the ninth off Williamson
for a 2-1 win.
"It helps that I've faced him before," Bragg said. "I know
what he has and what he's tried to do to get me out. He left a
pitch over the plate and I was able to do something."
Julian Tavarez (5-2) pitched one perfect inning in relief of
Rolando Arrojo, who gave up four runs -- three earned -- in six
innings. White's perfect eighth stretched his streak to 20 2/3
scoreless innings, one shy of the franchise record.
Jose Jiminez got the final three outs for his 12th save in 14
chances.
Larry Walker had a single, double and triple to pace the
Rockies, who have scored 41 runs in their last four games.
The Reds were only 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position and
were hurt by a big mistake by Neagle, who gave up a bases-loaded
single to Arrojo with two outs in the fourth that put the Rockies
up 3-2.
"I threw him a fastball up and away, and that's the easiest
pitch for us (pitchers) to handle," Neagle said. "All you have to
do is put the bat on the ball."
Center fielder Brian Hunter's fielding error helped the Reds tie
it in the bottom of the inning, and Sean Casey's RBI double put the
Reds up 4-3 in the fifth.
Dante Bichette, the Reds' hottest hitter in June, went 2-for-3
with a two-run double. He's batting .361 in the month.
Game
notes
Walker tripled in the first inning, giving the Rockies 33
triples this season, most in the majors. They've tripled in eight
of their last nine games. ... Todd Helton was 1-for-4, dropping his
NL-leading average to .393. ... RHP Pete Harnisch will make a
rehabilitation start Sunday for Triple-A Louisville. The Reds plan
to activate him to pitch a week from Friday to start in Arizona.
... Barry Larkin moved ahead of Johnny Bench for second place on
the Reds' list of runs scored with 1,092. Pete Rose is first with
1,741 runs scored. ... Griffey is hitting .196 with runners in
scoring position. ... Ron Villone will miss his scheduled start
Thursday because of a cut on his left index finger. Steve Parris
(2-10) will start instead.
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