Young Delivers Winner for Reds

Robb Nen was already in trouble. Dmitri Young left him in even worse shape.

Young hit a go-ahead, two-run single in the ninth inning against the San Francisco Giants’ bullpen ace Saturday as the Cincinnati Reds rallied for a 7-6 victory.

“Bases loaded, top of the ninth, facing one of the best relief pitchers in baseball--in that situation I was just looking to put a ball in play and it found the hole,” Young said. “I just tried to make something happen and it did.”

Scott Williamson (9-4) picked up the win by pitching two hitless innings, tying Wayne Granger’s 1969 franchise record for relief victories in a season. The Reds beat the Giants for the first time in five games this season.

“It’s taken us a long way to get them, but we finally got them,” said Cincinnati Manager Jack McKeon, whose Reds also withstood a two-homer, four-RBI effort by Ellis Burks. “Like us, they keep battling back.”

Marvin Benard homered against Dennys Reyes to lead off the ninth and, one out later, hit Barry Bonds with a pitch. Danny Graves relieved and got the final two outs on a double play for his 15th save.

Nen (3-4) came in to try to protect a 5-4 lead, but wound up with his sixth blown save.