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Griffey homers to lift Reds past Padres

May 16, 2007 - 6:58 AM SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- Ken Griffey Jr. did something he's done often and David Weathers something he hadn't done in a while to lead the Cincinnati Reds to a much-needed victory.

Griffey hit a home run in the 12th inning, Weathers delivered a strong performance out of the bullpen and the Reds snapped a four-game losing streak with a 2-1 victory over the San Diego Padres.

At the plate with two outs in the 11th, Griffey had to wait an inning to come through as Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips was thrown out trying to steal second.

Griffey connected for his eighth home run of the season and the 571st of his career off Padres reliever Heath Bell (0-2).

"(Bell) has really good stuff," Griffey said. "The only time he throws a fastball near the plate it's in the 90s. You just have to hopefully get a pitch to hit and I was able to do that."

"I threw the pitch where I wanted it," Bell said. "(Griffey) just got the better end of it. You just pick your head up and come out here firing tomorrow. I'll get him tomorrow. I have no fear. He's just another batter, just another left-hander."

Weathers (1-2) pitched three scoreless innings with two strikeouts to pick up the win. It was his longest outing since October 1, 2004.

"David Weathers has done a good job for us every time out," Reds manager Jerry Narron said. "I only wanted to keep him in for three outs if possible, but we haven't been in a position as often as we'd like to be able to use him. When we've got a chance to win a ballgame, we're going to use him."

The Reds, who snapped a six-game road losing skid, led, 1-0, in the eighth behind starter Aaron Harang. He had allowed just two hits before balking in the tying run.

Harang caught his spikes in the dirt as he was delivering a pitch with runners on second and third. He lost his balance, pumped a throw to the plate after losing his balance and finally threw home but was called for the balk.

"As long as I've been playing, I've never seen something like that happen where it ties up the game," Harang said. "I mean, I think that's the last possible thing on your mind that could happen in that situation. Maybe you'd think wild pitch or a pickoff gone awry or something. It's just one of those things that you would never expect would happen when you're out there pitching."

Geoff Blum, who had a pinch-hit double, scored on the play to tie the game at 1-1.

Harang allowed one run and two hits in nine innings. He struck out seven and walked four.

"I just came in with the (idea that) I'm going to keep us in this game and go as long as I can to give us an opportunity to win, and that's what I did," Harang said. "Then 'Stormy' (Weathers) came in and shut the door for those last three innings and Junior got that homerun. I mean, that was huge for us."

San Diego starter David Wells went a season-high eight innings, allowing one run and seven hits with five strikeouts and a walk.

"(Wells) pounded the strike zone with good stuff," Padres manager Bud Black said. "I thought his stuff was much crisper tonight. It was frustrating (to lose), but their guys pitched awful well. They made pitches, and we just couldn't break through."

Ryan Freel doubled in Chad Moeller in the sixth to give the Reds a 1-0 lead. Phillips extended his hitting streak to 18 games with a fourth-inning double for Cincinnati.