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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
HOUSTON (AP) -- Pete Harnisch has no fear of so-called hitters'
ballparks.
Harnisch pitched a four-hitter for his second straight complete
game, leading the Cincinnati Reds over the Houston Astros 4-0
Wednesday night.
It was the first complete-game shutout ever at homer-friendly
Enron Field.
|  | | Barry Larkin remained focused Wednesday -- he homered and tripled -- despite knowing the Reds will try to trade him. |
Harnisch (3-5) beat his old teammates for the fifth straight
time. In his previous start, he pitched the first complete game at
Coors Field this season and snapped the Reds' string of 103 games
without a complete game.
"There were a lot of circumstances, they just hit balls at
people and I had good stuff the last couple of times out,"
Harnisch said. "My breaking ball is better. That's the key, to get
them thinking about the breaking ball."
Harnisch struck out four and walked two in his 11th career
shutout. He has thrown the first back-to-back complete games by a
Reds pitcher since David Wells did it in 1995.
"He's been sharp every game he's pitched," Reds manager Jack
McKeon said. "But the last two times out, this is what we looked
for at the start of the season and didn't have.
"The last couple of weeks, the other guys have been trying to
follow suit. Maybe he's going to be the guy to look for in the
second half."
Barry Larkin hit a solo homer to fuel a three-run sixth inning,
then tripled in the seventh and scored on a sacrifice fly by Ken Griffey Jr.
Earlier this week, Larkin said the Reds told him they can't
afford his asking price, and will either trade him or watch him
become a free agent.
"It's a little disheartening to hear, but it's a business and
when you're a free agent, you have to deal with it," Larkin said.
"I have no complaints. The organization has treated me well.
"I have made concessions in the past and I've not asked for
fair market value, but this time I am."
After Craig Biggio doubled and Lance Berkman walked in the first
inning, Harnisch retired the next 14 batters in a row and didn't
allow another hit until Julio Lugo's single in the sixth.
Biggio became the first Astros player to hit 400 career doubles.
"He (Harnisch) matches up well against this club," McKeon
said. "We didn't arrange it that way, it just came up that way.
Scott Williamson has done well against this team and he's going
tomorrow."
Chris Holt (4-11) fell to 1-5 in eight starts against the Reds.
Holt didn't give up a hit until two outs in the fourth when
Dante Bichette doubled off the left-field scoreboard.
"That's Pete Harnisch right there," Biggio said. "He had a
fastball up around 93 and he goes after you and mixes things up.
He's a battler. Always has been. He knows how to get guys out."
Larkin broke up the scoreless game in the sixth with his 10th
home run. Young had an RBI single and Holt walked home the third
run of the inning.
Chris Stynes had his streak of eight consecutive multi-hit games
snapped for the Reds.
Game notes
Sean Casey extended his hitting streak to a career-high 12
games. Bichette has a 13-game string. ... The Reds purchased the
contracts of pitcher Mark Wohlers and infielder Brooks Kieschnick.
Wohlers, who last pitched in the majors for the Atlanta
Braves, did not allow an earned run in his last three minor league
outings. ... The Astros have signed their top pick in the June
draft. Pitcher Robert Stiehl was assigned to Class A Auburn.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Cincinnati Clubhouse
Houston Clubhouse
Hometown split: Reds place Larkin on trading block
RECAPS
Kansas City 10
Cleveland 5
NY Yankees 9
Detroit 1
Toronto 5
Tampa Bay 2
Boston 0
Baltimore 0
Chi. White Sox 3
Minnesota 2
Texas 3
Anaheim 2
Seattle 6
Oakland 3
Atlanta 0
Florida 0
NY Mets 5
Montreal 3
Chicago Cubs 5
Philadelphia 4
Cincinnati 4
Houston 0
Milwaukee 6
Pittsburgh 0
Arizona 4
St. Louis 3
Los Angeles 9
Colorado 1
San Diego 4
San Francisco 3
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