PHILADELPHIA (AP) _ Andy Ashby was supposed to help Philadelphia into playoff contention. So far, Ashby hasn't been able to get the Phillies out of last place in the NL East.

Ashby struggled for the second straight outing, allowing six runs _ five earned _ in seven innings as the Cincinnati Reds beat the Phillies 7-0 Tuesday night.

Philadelphia has lost four straight and 14 of 17. They are 7-18, tied with Detroit for worst record in the majors.

``They damn sure didn't bring me here to give up six, seven runs,'' said Ashby, acquired in a trade from San Diego in November. ``It's frustrating for me, frustrating for everybody.''

Ashby (1-3) won 31 games over the last two seasons and went to the All-Star game twice. He was expected to solidify the Phillies' rotation as the No. 2 starter behind Curt Schilling.

But Schilling missed nearly the entire month of April after offseason shoulder surgery, and Ashby struggled as the ace.

``I came here to win and I haven't been doing my job,'' Ashby said. ``The main thing is to go out and pitch. This team is going to score runs. It's frustrating to give up the lead early.''

Ashby's acquisition, coupled with the free-agent signing of closer Mike Jackson, had many believing the Phillies would contend. While Ashby has struggled, Jackson hasn't pitched. He is on the disabled list with a strained right shoulder.

``Everyone is mad about it, but you can't bury yourself,'' Ashby said. ``We definitely didn't think we'd start off this way, but these guys aren't going to fold.''

Denny Neagle didn't help the struggling Phillies batters any. He allowed one hit in six innings despite a case of food poisoning.

Neagle (3-0) allowed a leadoff double to Doug Glanville and didn't give up another hit. He struck out five and walked four while extending his scoreless innings streak to 18. Scott Sullivan allowed one hit in the final three innings for his second save.

``Getting through the first was important. It's always a big lift,'' Neagle said. ``My location was good. I was hitting the inside corner and that kept them honest. And I was throwing all four pitches for strikes.''

Neagle allowed two hits in seven innings of a 12-1 victory over the New York Mets in his last start on April 26.

After the fifth inning, he told Reds pitching coach Don Gullett to get somebody else ready. Neagle said he ``would have found a way to survive'' if he had a no-hitter.

``I haven't eaten anything in two days, but I've been drinking a lot of liquids,'' said Neagle, who said he got sick over the weekend in Pittsburgh. ``I'm still dehydrated. I probably lost six or seven pounds.''

The Reds gave Neagle all the runs he needed in the second when Sean Casey hit a two-run homer after Pokey Reese's RBI single. It was the first homer of the year for Casey, who hit 25 last season.

Reese added a sacrifice fly in the sixth to make it 5-0. The Reds have won three straight and five of six.

``We're just having a tough time,'' Phillies manager Terry Francona said. ``I know it gets old, but that's it.''

Ken Griffey Jr. went 0-for-4 in his first game in Philadelphia. Griffey got a little flavor of the Philly fans with two outs in the fifth, when a fan ran out to center field, well ahead of the security officers. The man shook Griffey's hand and did a dance before falling to his knees and surrendering.

Griffey didn't want to talk about the incident. He said he didn't remember what the guy said to him. Asked if he was scared, Griffey said, ``What do you think?''

Notes: Sullivan got his second career hit when he singled in the eighth inning. ... The Phillies, who entered the game with a major league-leading .990 fielding percentage, committed three of their 12 errors Tuesday. ... Jackson threw Tuesday for the first time since April 18. He reported some pain in his shoulder, but said he was encouraged by the outing. ``The true test will come when I throw off the mound,'' Jackson said.