Griffey Gives Reds Tender Glovin’ Care

A riveting game full of sensational defense was left up to the player with the most Gold Gloves on the field.

Ken Griffey Jr. made a diving catch, turned a double play and at least temporarily turned the Cincinnati Reds around.

The 10-time Gold Glove center fielder snuffed out Colorado’s rally with his catch in the eighth, and Dmitri Young homered in the bottom of the inning as the Reds beat the Rockies, 3-2, Tuesday night at Cincinnati, ending a six-game losing streak.

The win ended the Reds’ longest losing streak in two years. They’ve dropped 11 of 13 overall, a free fall that has left them with a losing record at 33-35.

Without Griffey’s play, that record might be one loss worse.

Reds’ starter Osvaldo Fernandez came out of the game after giving up Mike Lansing’s double just inside third base with one out in the eighth.

Dennys Reyes walked Larry Walker, and Danny Graves (9-1) came on to face Jeff Cirillo, who hit a soft fly to center on the first pitch. Griffey charged and made a diving catch, then threw to second to get Lansing for a double play.

Lansing initially hesitated, then took off for home when it looked like the ball would drop, leaving Griffey with an easy double play once he got up off the turf.

“That’s all Griffey,” Colorado Manager Buddy Bell said. “It’s not to blame anybody. That’s just what happens when a guy makes a great play. Lansing did what a trillion other players would have done in that situation.”

St. Louis 7, San Francisco 2--Rick Ankiel dominated at home again with six strong innings, and Craig Paquette hit a three-run homer as the Cardinals won a rain-shortened game.

The game was called in the top of the ninth after a lengthy rain delay.

Ellis Burks’ two-run homer in the second was the only damage against Ankiel, 20, who gave up three hits, walked three and struck out eight. Ankiel (6-3) worked on nine days’ rest so he could pitch at home, where he’s 5-0 with a 2.52 ERA. He is 1-3 with a 5.83 ERA on the road.

Jim Edmonds hit his 21st homer for the Cardinals and also robbed Burks of a second homer to end the fourth. Edmonds leaped and grabbed onto the top of the eight-foot-high center-field wall and caught the ball with his free arm.

Atlanta 11, Chicago 4--Chipper Jonestwice two-run homers at Atlanta and Kevin Millwood won for the first time in more than a month.

Jones, who matched his career high by getting a hit in his 18th consecutive game, capped a four-run second inning off Kevin Tapani with a shot into the right-center field stands.

He hit his second two-run shot in the fourth off Steven Rain, a line drive into the left-field stands, his 18th homer.

Philadelphia 3, New York 2--Mike Lieberthal’s two-out single in the 10th inning off Armando Benitez gave the Phillies the win at New York.

Mike Piazza staked New York to a 2-0 lead in the first with his 19th homer.

Pittsburgh 2, Montreal 1--Kris Benson pitched his way out of a bases-loaded jam with none out in the seventh as the Pirates held on for a win at Montreal.

Benson (6-5) won his second straight start and has given up only two runs in his last three starts.

San Diego 3, Arizona 1--Brian Tollberg gave up one hit over seven innings in his major league debut and Ryan Klesko homered twice as the Padres finally won at Bank One Ballpark.

Going into the game, San Diego was 0-4 this season in Arizona and 1-10 over the past two years.

Florida 8, Milwaukee 2--Ryan Dempster gave up three hits in seven innings and Alex Gonzalez hit a pair of two-run homers for the Marlins at Miami.

Dempster (8-4), who struck out three and walked six, gave up only one run.