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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
MONTREAL (AP) -- As delighted as he was to break out of his
season-long funk, Eddie Taubensee was even happier about getting
the Cincinnati Reds into a winning groove.
Taubensee went 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI doubles, and Dmitri
Young homered as the Reds completed a three-game sweep of the
Montreal Expos with a 7-4 victory Sunday.
|  | | Eddie Taubensee went 10-for-14 in the series to raise his average from .239 to .264. |
"It was a big weekend for our whole team," Taubensee said.
"It's starting to get exciting for us. The team is starting to gel
together and we're having a lot of fun."
Taubensee, who had his ninth career four-hit game Friday and
three more hits Saturday, hit a run-scoring double off Dustin
Hermanson (8-9) in the second and another in the fourth.
He singled in the sixth for his 10th hit of the three-game
series. Taubensee, who struck out against reliever Scott Forster in
the eighth, went 10-for-14 in the series to raise his average from
.239 to .264.
"I know I can still hit," Taubensee said. "I've hit in the
past. It's just one of those things you really have to fight
through and keep working hard. I knew I was going to come out of it
and to have a huge series like this is really a confidence
builder."
The Reds, who trailed St. Louis by a season-high 10 games in the
NL Central on July 5, moved within four as the Cardinals lost 4-2
to the New York Mets. That's the closest they've been since
trailing by 3½ on June 13.
Rookie Rob Bell (5-6), recalled from Triple-A Louisville on
Wednesday, allowed four runs and eight hits in 7 2/3 innings in his
first start since June 23.
"I was really nervous my first two innings," Bell said. "You
have to reprove yourself at this level. I feel good with the way I
came back today and pitched well for six of those 7 2/3 innings."
Bell, making his 16th start of the season, walked four and tied
his career-best with nine strikeouts.
"There's a certain amount of pressure to perform every time,"
Bell said. "I proved that I can pitch here. This is a good
start."
Trailing 5-1, Montreal drew within one with three runs in the
eighth on Lee Stevens' two-run homer and a solo shot by Andy Tracy.
Dante Bichette's two-run double in the ninth made it 7-4.
Danny Graves, who pitched three shutout innings to get his 10th
win on Saturday, got the final out for his 18th save in 20
opportunities.
Sean Casey doubled in the fourth to extend his hitting streak to
21 games before leaving the game in the bottom half with a sore
right leg.
Young replaced Casey at first base and hit his 12th homer in the
sixth to put Cincinnati ahead 4-1. Ken Griffey Jr.'s sacrifice fly
in the seventh made it 5-1.
The Expos drew to within two as Vladimir Guerrero singled to
lead off the eighth and Stevens followed with his 19th homer -- and
first since July 14. Tracy followed two outs later with his fourth
home run.
Montreal lost its sixth straight to fall a season-worst seven
games under .500 at 47-54. The Expos are 16-31 (.340) since they
were a season-high eight games over .500 for the second time this
season June 5.
"We have a great core group of guys," Hermanson said. "We've
tried to pull through the injuries but it's kind of tough when you
don't have the same team we had that first month, coming out of
spring training, because of all the injuries."
Hermanson allowed nine hits and five runs in seven innings. He
is 2-5 in his last seven starts.
Game notes
Casey, who fouled a ball of his leg Saturday, is hitting
.403 (31-for-77) with four homers and 17 RBI during the streak,
the longest by a Cincinnati player since Hal Morris hit safely in
29 consecutive games in 1996. ... Bell also struck out nine in
seven innings on April 8 in his major league debut against Chicago.
... Hermanson is 3-6 since rejoining the starting rotation June 5
after a brief sting as the team's closer.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Cincinnati Clubhouse
Montreal Clubhouse
Cubs conditionally acquire OF White from Expos
RECAPS
Baltimore 10
Cleveland 7
Tampa Bay 7
Kansas City 6
NY Yankees 7
Minnesota 4
Oakland 5
Boston 2
Seattle 10
Toronto 6
Chi. White Sox 11
Anaheim 7
Detroit 8
Texas 7
Atlanta 6
Houston 3
Cincinnati 7
Montreal 4
Philadelphia 3
Los Angeles 2
San Diego 9
Pittsburgh 8
NY Mets 4
St. Louis 2
Milwaukee 3
Colorado 2
Chicago Cubs 3
San Francisco 1
Florida 4
Arizona 3
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