Rijo Leads Reds Past the Padres, 7-4

Jose Rijo pitched eight shutout innings and hit a two-run single, and the Cincinnati Reds hammered Bruce Hurst in a 7-4 victory over the Padres on Saturday at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium.

Hurst (14-8) went 7 1/3 innings, allowing five runs on 12 hits, including Barry Larkin’s solo home run in the eighth and rookie Willie Greene’s run-scoring triple.

Reggie Sanders hit a two-run homer in the ninth, his third hit of the game, off Tim Scott.

Rijo (12-9) gave up five hits, struck out three and walked one. He is 3-0 in his last five starts.

The third-place Padres fell 11 games behind the Atlanta Braves, who lead the NL West.

Larkin led off the three-run eighth with his 11th homer. After Hurst gave up a single to Sanders and a one-out double to Oliver, Padre Manager Greg Riddoch pulled an odd move. Jeremy Hernandez came on, intentionally walked pinch-hitter Jeff Branson to load the bases, then was pulled for Rich Rodriguez.

Rodriguez struck out pinch-hitter Cesar Hernandez but gave up Rijo’s single on a full-count pitch, scoring Sanders and Oliver.

Gary Sheffield was 0 for 4 and his average dropped to .330, four percentage points behind Pittsburgh’s Andy Van Slyke in the batting race.