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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
CINCINNATI (AP) -- Michael Tucker took a chance and took off for
home. The way things are going for the Cincinnati Reds, there was
little doubt he'd make it.
Tucker stole home on a pickoff throw to first base Tuesday
night, a daring move that was the signature play of a 6-2 victory
over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
|  | | Reds shortstop Barry Larkin throws to first to complete a double play during his return to the lineup Tuesday. |
The Reds have won eight of nine by pulling off plays like the
one that Tucker made in the sixth, when he stole home against
reliever Scott Sauerbeck.
When the left-hander threw to first to chase Barry Larkin back,
Tucker took off and beat the throw from Kevin Young with a
feet-first slide.
Winning streaks are made on such plays.
"We're playing well right now," said Tucker, who got a start
in place of slumping right fielder Dante Bichette. "If we can
continue at this pace, we'll have a good run."
The Reds moved a season-high six games over .500 and remained
tied with St. Louis for first place in the NL Central by beating a
team that had been on a pretty good roll.
The Pirates had won six of nine heading into the three-game
series, but couldn't prevent the Reds from scratching out a win on
plays like Tucker's.
"They're a team that can score a lot of different ways,"
manager Gene Lamont said. "They used their speed right there.
They're an opportunistic team. That's what separates them -- the
speed they have."
Rob Bell (3-2) recovered from his worst major league start,
allowing one run and six hits in six innings against the only team
he's faced twice.
Bell, called up from Double-A to be the fifth starter in spring
training, also beat the Pirates 2-1 with six strong innings April
30 in Pittsburgh. The right-hander had lasted only two innings last
Thursday against San Diego.
Larkin, the Reds' shortstop and captain, was back in the lineup
for the first time since April 21, when he tore tissue at the base
of the middle finger on his glove hand while diving for a ball.
Although Larkin still can't make a tight fist and has swelling
in the hand, he persuaded the Reds to activate him from the
disabled list. He went 0-for-3 with a pair of walks, stole a base
and was caught stealing.
"I had fun," Larkin said. "It felt good. There were no
physical problems at all."
Eddie Taubensee had four of Cincinnati's 12 hits and the Reds
made minimal use of their scoring threats against Todd Ritchie
(2-2). Aaron Boone and Tucker had sacrifice flies, and Dmitri Young
singled home a run for a 3-0 lead after five innings.
It could have been much worse -- Cincinnati stranded runners on
second and third in the second inning and left the bases loaded in
the fourth.
Tucker pulled off the game's most daring play in the sixth, when
he walked and reached third on a sacrifice and a fly out. After
Larkin walked, Tucker took off when Sauerbeck made his second
pickoff throw to first.
It was the first time a Red stole home since Reggie Sanders at
Shea Stadium on June 22, 1996. The last player to steal home on
Pittsburgh was the Reds' Jacob Brumfield at Cincinnati on July 10,
1994.
Tucker noticed that he was able to get a good jump on
Sauerbeck's first pickoff throw and made up his mind to get a big
lead and head for home if there was another.
"I thought if I got down (the line) a little farther, I might
make this but the timing has to be perfect," Tucker said. "With
him being left-handed, he really can't see me. I tried to get as
much of a lead as I could."
Pokey Reese's two-run single in the seventh off Jeff Wallace
made it 6-1.
The Pirates once again failed to give Ritchie much help,
managing only Young's run-scoring groundout in the sixth.
Pittsburgh has scored only 16 runs while he's been on the mound in
his eight starts.
Game notes
The Pirates called up OF Emil Brown from Triple-A Nashville
and swapped two pitchers. RHP Josias Manzanillo was called up from
Nashville and RHP Jose Parra was designated for assignment. ... Wil
Cordero, who has a career-high 12-game hitting streak, was given
permission to miss the game. Cordero had to return to Puerto Rico
on a family matter. ... The Reds went 13-9 while Larkin was out.
... Bichette, 1-for-13 during a four-game series in Houston, was
given a day off. ... The Reds threw two more wild pitches, raising
their total to 34, most in the majors. ... The Reds didn't take
batting practice. They arrived back from a night game in Houston
around 2:45 a.m.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Red-hot Reds activate Larkin from DL
RECAPS
Kansas City 8
Oakland 7
Cleveland 11
Detroit 9
Chi. White Sox 4
NY Yankees 0
Toronto 7
Boston 6
Texas 9
Tampa Bay 7
Baltimore 4
Anaheim 3
Seattle 9
Minnesota 5
Cincinnati 6
Pittsburgh 2
San Diego 7
Florida 3
Montreal 2
Arizona 0
St. Louis 8
Philadelphia 2
Colorado 4
NY Mets 3
Atlanta 9
San Francisco 7
Los Angeles 6
Chicago Cubs 5
Milwaukee 6
Houston 5
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