Taubensee Gets In on the Reds’ Fun

Eddie Taubensee rediscovered his stroke in time to keep the Cincinnati Reds’ winning streak alive.

“He probably said, ‘It’s about time I did something. Everybody else has,’ ” Manager Jack McKeon said of Taubensee’s tiebreaking, three-run home run in the seventh inning of a 7-4 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night.

The Reds have won nine in a row. The streak, which follows an 11-game losing streak, is the Reds’ longest since they also won nine in a row May 22-31, 1995.

“We just feel we’re never out of it,” Taubensee said. “We’re having a lot of fun and a lot of young players are starting to play relaxed.”

Before his two-out homer, Taubensee was 0 for 3 and had been in an 18-for-97 tailspin (.186) that dropped his average below .300 for the first time since the first week of the season.

“Before I hit, I was telling Paul Konerko I hadn’t hit one in the gap in I didn’t know how long,” Taubensee said. “The next at-bat, I hit one real well.”

Cardinals’ slugger Mark McGwire, who leads the majors with 40 home runs, did not start for the first time since June 4, when he was out because of back spasms. McGwire pinch-hit, grounding to third to end the game. It was the first time he has pinch-hit this season.