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  Sunday, Jun. 25 1:15pm ET
Padres hold off Reds, 5-4
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME LOG

CINCINNATI (AP) -- In two of their three weekend games, the Cincinnati Reds got to Trevor Hoffman but couldn't get a win. That's the way their whole season has gone.

Brian Tollberg held Cincinnati scoreless into the eighth and the San Diego Padres survived another rally against Hoffman before closing out a 5-4 victory Sunday over the slumping Reds.

"We're playing the same type of games we did last year, when we'd fight and come back," said Reds catcher Eddie Taubensee, who had a run-scoring single in a four-run eighth. "But it seems that this year, lady luck is not on our side."

Cincinnati lost for the 14th time in 18 games and fell a season-high 8 1/2 games behind St. Louis, which beat Los Angeles 2-1. It's Cincinnati's biggest deficit in two years.

The Reds play the Cardinals seven times in the next 11 days, series that have taken on a lot of significance. If the Reds keep playing the way they have most of the month, they'll be out of contention soon.

Cincinnati looked listless Sunday and called a clubhouse meeting -- the second during a 2-4 homestand -- to try to change the Reds' karma.

"It seemed like we were lethargic today and trying to come back twice against one of the greatest pitchers in the game is tough," team captain Barry Larkin said. "The lack of enthusiasm was disappointing. We have a couple of tough weeks coming up. We've got to go out with the right attitude and focus."

The Reds scored three runs in the ninth off Hoffman in the series opener Friday to tie it, then lost 10-7 on Ruben Rivera's three-run homer in the 10th. They got another shot at the Padres' closer Sunday and came up one run short.

The Reds got seven hits off Tollberg (2-0), who struck out seven in 7 1/3 innings and left with a 5-0 lead and two on. Kevin Walker gave up RBI singles to Sean Casey and Aaron Boone, preserving the Reds' distinction as the only major league team yet to be shut out.

The Reds then completed a four-run rally by getting run-scoring pinch hits off Hoffman. Taubensee's single left him 8-for-15 career off Hoffman, and Chris Stynes' single made it 5-4 before Juan Castro flew out to end the nine-batter inning.

In the ninth, Hoffman retired Larkin and Ken Griffey Jr. on pop ups, then gave up a single to Dante Bichette before striking out Dmitri Young to secure his 19th save in 21 chances.

"To be honest, we're glad to get out of here with two wins," manager Bruce Bochy said. "Like in the first one, they came back on us, but Hoffy got it done. He had to go through three of their toughest hitters to get it done, but he got it done."

Tollberg, the 10th Padres starter this season, gave up only one hit and one unearned run in seven innings as he won his major league debut 3-1 in Arizona on Tuesday. In his two starts, he has given up two earned runs and eight hits in 14 1/3 innings with 14 strikeouts.

"If you would have asked me on the day I came up if I expected this, no way," said Tollberg, who started his career playing for Chillicothe's independent league team. "I'd have said I'd be happy just to give them some strong outings and let them make plays behind me. So it's special."

San Diego squeezed out five runs against Osvaldo Fernandez (2-1), who struggled with is control in the worst of his eight starts. Fernandez gave up a season-high in runs, walked five and allowed seven hits in five innings.

San Diego scored on a double-play grounder by Phil Nevin, a bases-loaded walk to Nevin, sacrifice flies by Bret Boone and Carlos Hernandez and a double by Hernandez.

The Padres have played a big role in the Reds' slide, winning five of their six games in the last 10 days. Boone led the way, going 6-for-12 in the last three games against his former team with three homers, seven RBIs and six runs.

Overall this season, Boone was 14-for-34 against the Reds, drove in 15 runs and hit six of his 12 homers.

Game notes
Eric Owens leads the NL with 33 multihit games. ... Nevin has hit into 12 double plays, second in the NL only to Bichette's 13. ... The Padres and the Reds remain the only two major league teams without a complete game. ... The Reds optioned struggling starter Rob Bell to Triple-A Louisville. They're expected to call up reliever Scott Winchester on Monday. Either Elmer Dessens or Manny Aybar will start Wednesday against St. Louis. ... With Pokey Reese sidelined by a sprained ankle and Stynes slowed by a sore hamstring, Castro made his first start of the season at second base.

 


ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard

San Diego Clubhouse

Cincinnati Clubhouse


Reds shake up rotation, ship Bell to minors


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