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Griffey helps Reds outslug Phillies

Apr 6, 2008 - 9:40 PM By Doug Tifft PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- Ken Griffey Jr. and the Cincinnati Reds rode a wave of offensive production en route to an 8-2 win Sunday over the Philadelphia Phillies.

Griffey had two hits, including a homer, as the Reds posted their highest scoring output so far this season.

Jeff Keppinger and Brandon Phillips both finished with three Hits, while Corey Patterson added two for the Reds.

"Last year I started off real slow, but this year, I don't know, I'm just hitting the ball where they're not," said Phillips, who has started the year hitting .316 after the first week.

Reds manager Dusty Baker knows the power of getting a few key hitters going at the plate.

"If you get a couple of guys that are hot, you can win a couple of ballgames," Baker said.

The scoring got started in the bottom of the first inning when Griffey blasted a two-run homer to right field. It was Griffey's first of the season and 594th of his 20-year career.

Griffey dodged any questions on the topic of his chase towards the 600 home run club.

The Reds added to their lead in the third when Keppinger belted Brett Myers' 3-1 offering out to left field for his second home run of the season.

Myers (0-1) lasted five innings, giving up four runs and eight hits while walking three and striking out four.

The Phillies scrapped together a run in the fifth inning after Carlos Ruiz led off with a double. Two batters later, Jimmy Rollins picked up his fourth RBI of the season on a groundball to drive in Ruiz.

That proved to be the only run that 24-year-old righthander Edinson Volquez (1-0) would allow.

Acquired in the offseason from the Texas Rangers in exchange for Josh Hamilton, Volquez was making his first start in a Reds uniform. He pitched 5 1/3 innings, giving up one run and five hits while striking out a career-high eight batters.

"I wanted to go out and do a good job in my first start in Cincinnati, and I think I did that," Volquez said.

Volquez received a standing ovation from the hometown fans after his outing. The fans were not the only ones who were impressed by Volquez, as Baker also heaped praise on his young starter.

"I like his confidence, his poise, he's loose," Baker said. "He's got a very quick arm, and good arm action which helps deceive the hitters on his changeup."