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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
CINCINNATI (AP) – The retooled top of the Cincinnati Reds' lineup is doing its part. So is the starting rotation that came in for so many questions. Barry Larkin kept getting on base and Dmitri Young doubled with the bases loaded Thursday, leading the Reds to a 4-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates and a split of Cincinnati's four-game homestand. Larkin and Young, the top two hitters in the batting order, finished a productive week of getting on base and getting pivotal hits -- just what manager Bob Boone had in mind when he reconfigured the lineup. "They're really good," Boone said. "I'm kind of liking it." Larkin walked twice and scored, ending a solid homestand. In his new role as leadoff hitter, Larkin set up the offense by reaching base in 13 of his 18 plate appearances. Young, who bats second, leads the team with a pair of homers and six RBIs, helping it get through the absence of Ken Griffey Jr. The center fielder was out of the lineup for all four games because of a strained hamstring, and struck out in his two pinch-hit appearances. "I don't feel any pressure," said Young, who expects to bat ahead of Griffey whenever the Reds' top star returns. "If I put pressure on myself, I couldn't be able to come through in any situation." The Pirates' pitching staff is under immense pressure only three games into the season. Pittsburgh lost yet another starter in Cincinnati. Terry Mulholland, who sprained his left knee during a 6-5 win on Wednesday night, was placed on the 15-day disabled list Thursday. Fourth-fifths of the Pirates' rotation is hurt, and they haven't even opened their new PNC Park yet. "There are better days ahead for us," manager Lloyd McClendon said. Jimmy Anderson (0-1) pitched well with the exception of one inning. The left-hander gave up four runs on three hits in the third, and only two more infield singles in his seven innings overall. The Reds' first five batters reached safely in the third inning, when Pokey Reese singled, stole second and came around on Jason LaRue's soft single off the bat handle. Anderson then walked Elmer Dessens (1-0) and Larkin to load the bases, and Young sliced a double that rolled to the base of the wall in right-center for a 4-0 lead. "You can't lose it like that," Anderson said. "I made 20-some pitches (in the third) and it ends up costing us the game." The starting rotation, a concern for the Reds, came through during the homestand. Dessens allowed seven hits in seven innings, giving the Reds their fourth straight solid start. Both losses in the series were pinned on the bullpen. "Everybody rode our starting pitchers up the river, but I knew they could give us six or seven strong innings every night and turn it over to the bullpen," Young said. Mark Wohlers pitched a perfect eighth -- he hasn't given up a hit or a walk in two innings this season -- and John Riedling pitched the ninth for his second career save. The Reds got a scare in the second inning, when Aramis Ramirez's sharply hit grounder deflected off Dessens' right forearm. He rolled up his black shirt sleeve so a trainer could examine him, then threw a couple of warmup pitches. "Not for one minute did I think about coming out of the game," Dessens said. Brian Giles hit a solo homer in the fourth and the Pirates loaded the bases with none out in the fifth. Anderson popped out and Adrian Brown grounded into a double play, ending Pittsburgh's best threat. Brown grounded into only one double play in 104 games last season. "The old adage: That's the way the ball bounces sometimes," McClendon said. "It didn't bounce for us." Game notesMcClendon is leaning toward starting Todd Ritchie in the PNC Park opener on Monday. Ritchie currently is scheduled to start Sunday in Houston. ... Reliever Bill Taylor was called up from Triple-A to take Mulholland's spot on the roster. ... Pittsburgh has seven players on the disabled list, including five pitchers. ... Anderson walked Larkin to start the Reds' first inning. In his 26 starts last season, Anderson retired the side in order only six times in the first inning. He also gave up 25 first-inning runs last season, tied with Jose Silva for most on the staff. ... The Reds threw three wild pitches during the homestand. Last season, they set a major league record with 96. ... Ruben Rivera, who had a career-high four hits on Wednesday night, started again and went 0-for-3.  Send this story to a friend
| RECAPS Toronto 11 Tampa Bay 0
Cincinnati 4
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