Football
18y

Dunn's eighth homer, Claussen's seven shutout innings lift Reds

CINCINNATI (AP) -- The Cincinnati Reds are back to a familiar
routine: trying to win games without Ken Griffey Jr.

The Reds put Griffey on the 15-day disabled list Monday night
following a 9-1 victory over the Florida Marlins, who have the
youngest lineup and the fewest wins in the National League.

It's the first time in two years that the 36-year-old Griffey
has gone on the disabled list. After a series of major injuries
from 2001-04, he made it through last season and won the NL's
comeback player of the year award.

Now, he's making another type of comeback -- from an inflamed
tendon behind his right knee that made him miss the last five
games. The Reds said the injury isn't serious, but they don't want
it to get worse.

"He's had a long history, so this is peace of mind," Dr.
Timothy Kremchek said.

Even without Griffey, the Reds had more than enough offense to
take care of the young and struggling Marlins. Adam Dunn got it
started with his eighth homer, and left-hander Brandon Claussen
pitched seven shutout innings.

Dunn extended his week-long power surge with a two-run homer in
the first inning -- his last six hits have been homers.

"Dunner is swinging the bat really well," manager Jerry Narron
said. "I'd like to see him hit a lousy single somewhere."

Austin Kearns also had a solo shot, and Brandon Phillips drove
in four runs with a double and a pair of singles, matching his
career highs for hits and RBI.

"I love this team," said Phillips, obtained in an April 7
trade with Cleveland. "Everybody's laid back and cool. There's a
lot of jokesters on this team. I think I fit in real well with this
team."

The Reds have 26 homers in their first 13 games, coming off a
season in which they led the NL in homers. Twenty-three homers have
been hit overall in seven games at Great American Ball Park, which
yielded the most in the majors last year.

The Marlins have only three victories this season, the fewest in
the league. Florida opened the season with 11 rookies on the roster
and looked its age on Monday, prompting manager Joe Girardi to hold
a brief team meeting afterward.

"It was an ugly game for us," Girardi said. "We didn't pitch,
we didn't play defense, we didn't hit with runners on. It's
difficult to win a game like that."

Claussen (1-1) has dominated the Marlins in two career
appearances. Last season, he allowed only three hits in 5 1/3
shutout innings of a 2-1 victory in Miami.

The left-hander was even better on Monday, giving up five hits
and striking out seven in seven innings. He also had a defensive
play that saved a run, jumping and stretching to get Josh Willingham's comeback grounder with two runners aboard in the
sixth.

Of course, these Marlins are much different from the ones that
Claussen beat last year.

"We went over the scouting report and I didn't know hardly
anybody," Claussen said. "I'm not saying they're not good, but I
hadn't faced anybody."

Willingham grounded into a double play that scored the Marlins'
run in the eighth inning off reliever Mike Burns.

Brian Moehler (0-3) had another bad night in his
uncharacteristically rough April. Heading into this season, the
right-hander had a winning career record in April -- his only such
month.

Moehler gave up eight runs in five-plus innings, falling to 0-3
in three starts with a 13.14 ERA. Moehler has given up at least six
runs in each of his starts, and has now lost his last nine
decisions, a club record.

"I'm not giving us a chance to win," said Moehler, who had
never started a season with three straight losses. "When you give
up runs early, I'm sure it takes the wind out of everybody's sails.
I'm at a loss. I'm struggling right now."

Game notes
The Marlins put RHP Carlos Martinez (strained elbow) and OF
Jeremy Hermida (sore hip) on the 15-day DL. RHP Randy Messenger and
OF Matt Cepicky were called up from Triple-A Albuquerque. ...
Messenger got into the game in the sixth and gave up an RBI single,
and Cepicky got into the game as part of a double switch in the
eighth. ... Moehler is 0-4 in five career games against the Reds,
for whom he played in 2002. ... CF Reggie Abercrombie went 0-for-4
with a pair of strikeouts, extending his slump to 0-for-20. ... In
his last seven games, Dunn is 6-for-23 with six homers. ... Kearns'
homer extended his hitting streak to five games. ... Phillips' four
RBI matched his career high.

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