Harnisch Homers, Shuts Out Padres

Pete Harnisch hit the first home run of his career--after 341 at-bats--and pitched his second shutout of the season Saturday night as the Cincinnati Reds beat the San Diego Padres, 3-0.

Harnisch connected for a two-run homer in the seventh against Heath Murray (0-1), making his season debut after being recalled Tuesday from triple-A Las Vegas.

The Padres managed only three hits against Harnisch (4-4), who had four strikeouts and two walks in logging his first shutout since his first start of the season April 9 against the St. Louis Cardinals. It was also his second complete game of the year.

Harnisch became the first Cincinnati starter in four games to last more than three innings. His stint exceeded the combined total of 5 2/3 innings by Jason Bere, Denny Neagle and Brett Tomko in the previous three games.

The Reds, coming off a 5-4 loss Friday to the Padres, won for the sixth time in seven games.

Murray, whose last major league start came June 12, 1997, gave up three runs on nine hits in 6 2/3 innings with two strikeouts and one walk.

Cincinnati opened the scoring in the fourth when Pokey Reese hit a leadoff single, stole second and advanced to third on a groundout before scoring on a double by former Padre Greg Vaughn.

In the seventh, Harnisch sent the first pitch with two outs into the left-field seats. He had gone one for 17 before the homer.

Harnisch, who set down nine consecutive batters before Quilivo Veras got his second hit in the eighth, improved his career marks to 10 shutouts and 21 complete games.

The Padres wasted a out-one double in the fourth by Dave Magadan, his sixth in four games.