Parris Makes an Impression

Chances are that Steve Parris caught someone’s eye.

Parris pitched a three-hitter for his second career shutout as the Cincinnati Reds sent the Montreal Expos to their third consecutive loss, 4-0, Saturday night.

“I’ve got to impress some people for next year, whether it be the Reds or someone else,” Parris said. “I don’t know if the Reds are going to keep going with the youth movement and I’d like to show them something and hopefully stay around here next year.”

Parris (3-3) retired the final 17 batters after giving up two consecutive singles with one out in the fourth. He got his other shutout on Aug. 15, 1995, with a seven-hitter in a 6-0 victory at San Diego while with Pittsburgh.

“I didn’t even know I had 17 consecutive,” Parris said. “I just kept throwing the ball and they kept putting them in play. With our infield defense, not many balls are going to get through.”

Parris struck out four and walked one in winning his second start in a row after losing his three previous decisions.

“We wanted him to get out there in the ninth inning and close it out,” Cincinnati Manager Jack McKeon said. “He was in complete command. . . . Those back-to-back hits could have got him in trouble, but he bailed himself out very nicely.”

The Expos have dropped 10 of 12.

Bret Boone hit a two-run single in the first and the Reds added two more runs in the second as Cincinnati chased Montreal rookie Jeremy Powell (1-4) after two innings.

Powell was in trouble from the outset, giving up a leadoff single to Reggie Sanders and then a walk to Barry Larkin. Powell struck out Sean Casey, but Dmitri Young walked to load the bases.

Powell got Jeffrey Hammonds to pop out on a 3-1 pitch before Boone singled home Sanders and Larkin for a 2-0 Cincinnati lead.

The Reds added two more against Powell in the second. Aaron Boone drew a leadoff walk and advanced to third on Larkin’s two-out single. Larkin then stole second and Boone scored on catcher Chris Widger’s throwing error.

Casey followed with a walk--Powell’s fourth--before Young singled to drive in Larkin from second and put Cincinnati ahead 4-0.

Miguel Batista came on in the third to relieve Powell, who gave up four runs and four hits in two innings. Batista struck out five while pitching five scoreless innings of two-hit relief.