Reds Can’t Hold 5-0 Lead and Lose, 10-9

One day after an embarrassing loss to San Diego, the Cincinnati Reds made the Padres work for this one.

Joey Hamilton’s rough start left the Padres down by five runs, but Greg Myers’ bases-loaded double rallied the Padres to a 10-9 victory Wednesday night over the Reds at Cincinnati.

Ken Caminiti and Steve Finley homered for the Padres and a seven-run sixth inning was highlighted by Myers’ go-ahead double with one out.

He worked reliever Scott Sullivan (0-1) to a full count, then waited for a fastball. All he wanted to do was hit it in the air.

“I didn’t want to hit one on the ground and end it with a double play,” Myers said.

Instead, he drove it off the wall and three runs scored, turning the game around.

The Padres scored 10 runs for the second straight day, as every starter except Hamilton and Quilvio Veras got a hit. Eight starters had hits on Tuesday as San Diego won the opener 10-2, the Reds’ worst opening-day defeat in 36 years.

The Reds’ pitching staff has now given up 20 runs--18 earned--on 20 hits and 10 walks in the two games.

“I don’t know what the heck they’re doing,” Manager Jack McKeon said. “They’re not throwing strikes like they did in the spring. They’re better than that. Our guys have got to shake it up.”

The Reds got off to a 5-0 lead in the first inning and 6-1 after the second as Hamilton struggled. He gave up seven hits to the first 11 batters and was down by five runs after only 22 pitches. Jon Nunnally doubled twice and Willie Greene and Eddie Taubensee had two-run doubles in the spurt.

Hamilton settled down and allowed only one more hit after the second inning as he went 5 1/3 innings and got the win.

Brian Boehringer gave up a two-run single to Sean Casey--his first National League--that cut it to 10-9 in the seventh, but Trevor Hoffman struck out Casey with a runner on second to end the game and get his first save.

Hoffman threw four inside fastballs to Casey, then tied him up with an inside changeup.

“They told me he had a great change-up and the next thing I knew, I’m seeing four fastballs and I’m thinking, ‘God, he’s got a great fastball, too,’ ” Casey said. “Then he dropped it off on me and I’m thinking, ‘My God.’ But that’s all right. I’ll get to face him again.”

Caminiti hit a solo homer and Finley had a two-run shot off starter Pete Harnisch to start San Diego’s comeback.

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NEXT SERIES FOR DODGERS

WHO: Cincinnati Reds

WHERE: at Cincinnati

WHEN: Friday 4 p.m.

Saturday, 10:15 a.m.

Sunday 10:15 a.m.