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Griffey homers, drives in four as Reds win fifth straight

Aug 26, 2007 - 3:50 AM CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- Ken Griffey Jr. homered and drove in four runs as the Cincinnati Reds posted their season-high fifth straight win, an 11-7 victory over the Florida Marlins on Saturday night.

Adam Dunn also belted a three-run shot for the Reds, who ripped 15 hits and scored three or more runs in three different frames en route to the easy triumph.

Since interim manager Pete Mackanin took over on July 1, the Reds (58-70) are 27-19 and have come from 17 games behind in the National League Central Division to 8 1/2 games back of the first-place Chicago Cubs (66-61).

Former Reds legend David Concepcion had his No. 13 retired before the game, and Griffey thought it was good for him and his teammates to see all the members of the "Big Red Machine," who were here to celebrate Concepcion's day.

"We're doing all right. The 'Little Red Wagon' is doing all right," Griffey said. "They ('Big Red Machine' players) have a good time. They loosened us up by telling us what they did when they were struggling."

Griffey gave Concepcion one of his bats.

"This guy means so much to this city, this organization," the veteran outfielder said. "It was just something that I'll never forget, listening to him during his speech. It's just good that he made it through, and we got it for him.

"It started off a little rough with the rain. But it cleared up and it was a perfect day. The gods are looking after him. They said, 'Hey, we'll make it good for him.'"

Josh Hamilton singled to start the game against Marlins starter Sergio Mitre (5-7), extending his hitting streak to 10 games. The rookie scored on Brandon Phillips' base hit one out later.

Hamilton singled again in the second to score Edwin Encarnacion. The two-out hit opened the floodgates as Jeff Keppinger extended his hitting streak to 14 contests with a single and Griffey drilled a two-run double to make it 4-0.

Griffey's 591st home run - off Mitre in the fifth - followed Keppinger's second single, and Scott Hatteberg then singled home Phillips - who reached on a double - to cap the three-run frame and give the Reds a 7-0 bulge.

Griffey fell a triple shy of the cycle.

"Griffey got us twice in five innings," Florida manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "Both times on 0-2 pitches. Sergio couldn't execute the 0-2 pitch. He got ahead then got the ball up."

Matt Belisle (7-8) was recalled by Cincinnati from Class AAA Louisville before the game to make his 24th start. He appeared to have learned from his demotion on August 11 after inconsistent results in his previous 23 outings.

"It was a lot of fun tonight. The bottom line is we're a really good team right now, and it's a good feeling," Belisle said. "Tonight, I just made less mistakes. My trouble has been the big inning with mistake pitches to the wrong guys at the wrong time.

"Tonight, I didn't make nearly as many mistakes over the plate. I know I can pitch like this, but it's putting a string of consistent games together that matters."

On Saturday, Belisle yielded four runs and eight hits while striking out a career-high nine and walking two in seven-plus frames. It was his longest stint since he went 7 2/3 innings on May 29 in a 2-1 win against Houston.

"He gave us innings that we needed and pitched like a major leaguer. It's nice to see him back on track," Mackanin said. "I said hello to him before the game, and that's all I said.

"I didn't talk to him all day. I just let him go out there and let him do what he needed to do."

Four relievers hurled the final four frames, including closer David Weathers, who pitched a scoreless ninth in a non-save situation.

Jeremy Hermida put the Marlins on the board in the sixth with his 13th homer, extending his hitting streak to a career-high nine games by depositing a shot into the first row of the right field seats.

Mitre tossed six innings, allowing seven runs and 10 hits while walking one and striking out two. He was the 376th pitcher to surrender a home run to Griffey.

"Belisle did a good job of pitching and getting people out. I didn't. I got hit around. I gave up seven runs. That doesn't help the team," Mitre said. "I'm not making any excuses. I've got to pitch through this year. I can't wait for this month to be over. It's been brutal. I have five maybe six starts left. I have to finish strong and get ready for next year."

This is the first time Mitre has spent the entire season on a major league roster. Saturday's outing was his 24th start of the season with his previous high of nine coming with the Chicago Cubs in 2004.

"He is in uncharted waters as far as starts for his major league career," Gonzalez said. "We have to see how he works through it."

Dunn launched a 419-foot homer into the Reds' bullpen in left-center off Byung-Hyun Kim, who was signed for a second stint with the Marlins this season prior to the game.

Dan Uggla ignited a six-run rally in the eighth with a leadoff homer - his 24th of the season - and Miguel Oliva capped it with a three-run blast.