McGwire Helps Reds Stay Hot

Mark McGwire’s throwing error in the 11th inning gave the Cincinnati Reds their 10th consecutive victory, 4-2 over the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday night.

The Reds came from behind in all three games of the series, overcoming a 5-0 deficit Monday and a 4-2 margin Tuesday. They trailed, 2-0, Wednesday before tying the score in the eighth on an RBI single by pinch-hitter Melvin Nieves, then won on McGwire’s sixth error of the season.

“Right when I released it, I wanted it back,” McGwire said. “It cut on me. It’s never fun to lose, but I’m not going to play with my head down.”

The Reds’ winning streak is their longest since a 10-game run in July 1975. The club record is 12 in a row in 1957 and 1939.

Cincinnati has won 15 of 16, its best stretch since an identical run in 1975 as the Big Red Machine. The Reds also have won 10 in a row on the road.

McGwire made two nice fielding plays at first base earlier in the game. But in the 11th, Bret Boone beat out an infield hit and McGwire, trying to get Sean Casey at home, threw the ball wide of the plate. Eddie Taubensee also scored from second on the play.

“I thought I was going to beat it out and I was surprised to see him throw the ball,” Boone said. “You have to give Sean and Eddie credit for hustling all the way.

“It was just a different way to win.”

Gabe White (4-3) worked 2 1/3 scoreless innings as the Reds beat the Cardinals for the sixth consecutive time this season and ninth consecutive time in two seasons.

The Red bullpen didn’t give up a run in 17 innings in the series.

John Frascatore (1-3) was the loser.

McGwire had a fairly quiet game at the plate, going one for three with two intentional walks.

He hit a liner that nearly beheaded second baseman Boone, who was positioned on the left side of second, in the seventh.

“That shift is nothing new,” McGwire said. “Every team does it.”

Matt Morris gave up a run in six innings and had an RBI double in the second. Cincinnati’s only run off Morris was on a bases-loaded walk to eighth-place hitter Dmitri Young in the sixth that cut the gap to 2-1.