Reds Motivated by the Ghosts of the Machine

Playing up to the Big Red Machine’s standards wasn’t so tough. Playing in their double-knit uniforms was another matter.

Barry Larkin and Ken Griffey Jr., who were raised on Big Red Machine lore, homered Saturday as Cincinnati beat the Minnesota Twins, 9-3, on a night dedicated to past champions at Cincinnati.

Dante Bichette also hit a home run as the Reds donned double-knits and low-stirrup socks to honor the 1975 World Series champions, then did that team proud.

“I think it motivated us,” said Bichette, who has homered in each of his last three games. “If we were to ever come close to playing like those guys, tonight was the night--to honor those guys.”

Denny Neagle (5-0) remained unbeaten since last Aug. 30, a span of 19 starts, by giving up four hits in seven innings.

He also singled with the bases loaded to spark the go-ahead rally in the fourth inning.

The Reds introduced their 1975 team along the first baseline before the game and inducted manager Sparky Anderson and shortstop Davey Concepcion into their Hall of Fame.

The biggest ovation was for Pete Rose, who was barred from the festivities because of his lifetime ban for gambling. When the ’75 team took its positions on the field, Larkin--a Cincinnati native--jogged to Rose’s unoccupied spot at third and placed a single red rose on the base.

“It was the right thing to do,” said Larkin, who grew up in Cincinnati. “We’d been talking about Pete’s omission. We felt it was right to represent him in some capacity, so we decided I was going to put a rose on third base.”

Houston 6, Chicago White Sox 1--Chris Holt won for the first time in five interleague starts, and the Astros beat the White Sox at Houston in a game that included a false fire alarm and a ball hit off Enron Field’s ceiling.

Holt gave up eight hits in eight innings, including Carlo Lee’s seventh-inning homer.

Fans were startled by a first-inning fire alarm. When a siren went off with the Astros batting, fans were told to leave the stadium. Seconds later, fans some started to rise from their seats to leave, the command was withdrawn. Play was delayed about one minute.

Astro spokesman Rob Matwick said a smoke detector went off inadvertently.

Houston’s Mitch Meluskey fouled a pitch off one of Enron’s girders above the third-base line in the second inning, the first ball to hit Enron’s ceiling.

Cleveland 4, St. Louis 2--Mark McGwire broke up Bartolo Colon’s no-hit bid with a seventh-inning single but the Indians, behind home runs from David Justice and Richie Sexson, beat the Cardinals at St. Louis.

Colon matched his season high with 12 strikeouts.

Texas 4, Arizona 3--Chad Curtis hit a two-run homer and Kenny Rogers pitched six solid innings for the Rangers at Arlington, Texas.

Rogers scattered four hits and struck out five. He has lasted at least six innings in all 11 starts this season and has given up three or fewer earned runs in his last four.

Detroit 5, Chicago Cubs 3--Damion Easley, activated from the disabled list Friday, drove in three runs for the Tigers at Chicago.

Philadelphia 9, Boston 3--Mike Lieberthal homered twice and had five RBIs at Philadelphia as the Phillies sent the Red Sox to their fourth straight loss.

New York Mets 1, Tampa Bay 0--Al Leiter and three relievers handed Tampa Bay its first shutout of the season, and the Mets took advantage of a misplayed fly ball to win at New York.

Greg Vaughn, who lost a fly ball in left field to account for the lone run, took a called third strike from Armando Benitez, ending the game with runners on first and second.

Kansas City 16, Pittsburgh 3--Mike Sweeney was four for five with a career-high five RBIs at Pittsburgh as the Royals stopped Pittsburgh’s four-game winning streak.

Sweeney, Jermaine Dye and Brian Johnson homered for the Royals, who had 18 hits and set a season high for runs.

San Diego 7, Seattle 4--Stan Spencer came within one out of his first major league complete game and Ryan Klesko hit a two-run homer to lead the Padres at Seattle.

Montreal 7, Baltimore 4--Geoff Blum matched his career high with three RBIs, including a two-run homer, and Vladimir Guerrero hit his 16th home run at Montreal.

Florida 2, Toronto 1--Mike Lowell and Kevin Millar hit consecutive home runs off Billy Koch in the eighth inning to lead the Marlins at Miami.