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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
CINCINNATI (AP) – Lloyd McClendon's homecoming was much like his
first spring training as the Pittsburgh Pirates' manager – not very
satisfying.
|  | | Lloyd McClendon on his debut as Pirates manager: ""I wish we'd have won. That would have felt a lot better." |
Barry Larkin doubled home a pair of runs and Cincinnati's
bullpen withstood a wild seventh inning Tuesday night as the Reds
held on for a 3-2 victory, their first under manager Bob Boone.
"I hope they're not all that easy," Boone said jokingly. "I
know the team has worked hard for it. I've worked hard for it. I'll
sleep easier tonight."
A day after the Reds were drubbed by Atlanta 10-4 in the debut
of their reconfigured ballpark, they ruined a big moment for
McClendon. The former outfielder made his big league managing debut
in the same stadium where he made his major league playing debut
with the Reds in 1987.
"It was OK," McClendon said without much enthusiasm, sipping
from a bottle of water. "I wish we'd have won. That would have
felt a lot better. It's always nice to come back."
The '87 Reds won 84 games under player-manager Pete Rose;
McClendon is managing a team that won only 69 last season, its
eighth straight with a losing record, and was decimated by injuries
during spring training.
Todd Ritchie made his first season-opening start because
three-fifths of the rotation is hurt. Projected Opening Day starter Kris Benson and the Pirates' last two Opening Day starters,
Francisco Cordova and Jason Schmidt, are out until at least next
month.
Ritchie gave up four walks and only four hits in six innings,
but they came at bad times for the right-hander. Larkin, off to a
fast start at the plate despite a groin strain, sliced a two-run
double into the right-field corner in the second, and Alex Ochoa
tripled to the base of the wall in center field for a 3-0 lead in
the third.
A four-pitch walk to Jason LaRue with pitcher Osvaldo Fernandez
on deck set up Larkin's two-run double.
"I should be able to throw strikes," Ritchie said. "It's not
a good thing when you walk four guys. That's bad baseball. I'm not
happy with it."
Ken Griffey Jr. hit a ball off the facing of the upper deck
during pregame batting practice, but was out of the Reds' lineup
for a second day because of his strained left hamstring.
Pittsburgh had plenty of chances against Fernandez and the Reds'
so-far shaky bullpen, but went 0-for-11 with runners in scoring
position. Both of the Pirates' runs came in the seventh, when
reliever Scott Williamson let in one run with a wild pitch and hit Jason Kendall in the back to force in another.
Williamson threw a club-record 21 wild pitches last season, when
the Reds set a major league record with 96.
John Riedling relieved Williamson and got Brian Giles to fly
out, ending the inning with the bases loaded. Danny Graves pitched
the ninth for the save.
"As long as we keep putting the pressure on, we're going to get
that big hit sooner or later," Giles said.
Shortstop Jack Wilson, the only rookie position player on the
Pirates' roster, doubled for his first big league hit and made the
best defensive play of the game, diving in the hole to get LaRue's
grounder with a backhand catch, then popping up to throw out the
catcher at first.
The infield conditions made Wilson's play more remarkable. Each
team had a pair of errors and the hard-and-fast infield grass again
turned up bad hops and tough chances.
Larkin and the Reds complained about the newly installed infield
grass after their opener. The Pirates were surprised by the way it
played in their first game.
"We're concerned about it," McClendon said. "Let's just say
it didn't play as well as we'd hope it would play. It was awfully
fast and there were a lot of bad bounces. The conditions are not
ideal out there."
Game notes
The Pirates wore black sleeves with their gray road uniform
vests, reintroduced this season. Pittsburgh also wore sleeveless
uniforms from 1957-69. ... It was the first time the Pirates opened
the season against Cincinnati since 1963, when the Reds' Jim
O'Toole won a 5-2 decision over Earl Francis. The Pirates
officially open their new PNC Park next Monday against the Reds.
... Michael Tucker started in center field again in place of
Griffey. He's 1-for-7 in his two games. ... Batting leadoff, Larkin
has reached base in six of his eight plate appearances – three
singles, a double and two walks.
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Minnesota 3
Detroit 2
Texas 3
Anaheim 2
Tampa Bay 8
Toronto 1
Oakland 5
Seattle 1
NY Mets 6
Atlanta 4
Houston 11
Milwaukee 3
Cincinnati 3
Pittsburgh 2
Philadelphia 4
Florida 3
Arizona 3
Los Angeles 2
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