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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
CINCINNATI (AP) -- Barry Larkin got the message -- and the money.
For the second day in a row, Larkin had to back out of the box
during an ovation before his first at-bat, an indication he's still
wanted in his hometown.
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Hours after a 5-3 victory Sunday over Arizona, the Cincinnati Reds
made it official. They agreed with the All-Star shortstop on a
three-year, $27 million contract extension.
"This has all really come as a shock to me," Larkin said.
Larkin went 1-for-4 and scored a run during the victory over the
Arizona Diamondbacks. He received a 30-second ovation during his
first trip to the plate.
A banner in the upper deck said "Thank You Barry" and the
34,822 fans stood and let him know how they felt about his decision
to reject a trade to the New York Mets.
"I appreciate the fact that the fans seem to appreciate me,"
Larkin said. "I think they want me to stay -- at least the ones who
were here the last three days."
The Mets gave up their pursuit of Larkin on Sunday, unwilling to
offer the multiyear extension that the All-Star shortstop wanted as
a condition to leave home.
The week of trade talk had worn on Larkin, who managed only a
slight smile when he walked into the clubhouse before the game. He
went into a 3-for-17 slump while the trade talks intensified.
Larkin briefly backed out of the box during his latest ovation,
then stepped in and grounded out. He singled in the fifth and
scored from first on Ken Griffey Jr.'s double. He also prevented a
run by ranging behind second base to get Matt Williams' grounder in
the fourth, then spinning and throwing to first for the out.
The Reds were happy to keep their captain.
"That's good news," Dante Bichette, who hit a two-run homer,
said right after the game. "When I came over here, he was the guy
I was most excited about playing with. You watch him day after day
and you just appreciate him more.
"You find yourself saying to yourself, 'This is one of the best
players ever.' It's great for our club because we've still got a
chance to win."
Despite trading starter Denny Neagle to the Yankees and getting
a tentative deal to send Larkin to the Mets, the Reds have inched
closer to first in the NL Central by winning 10 of their last 15
games.
Elmer Dessens (4-0), a reliever moved into the injury- and
trade-depleted rotation, won his third consecutive start by
allowing three runs and eight hits in 7 1/3 innings. Luis Gonzalez
had three of the hits and Erubiel Durazo hit a solo homer in the
seventh inning.
Dessens has been tough in his limited appearances against
Arizona. In two starts and one relief appearance covering 16 1/3
innings, he has given up only three runs.
Danny Graves gave up an RBI single to Williams in the eighth,
but got Danny Bautista on a broken-bat groundout with the bases
loaded to end the inning. He pitched the ninth for his 17th save in
18 chances.
The Reds took advantage of Brian Anderson's worst performance
since June 17. Anderson (8-4) allowed eight hits in five innings as
the Reds pulled ahead 5-1.
Dmitri Young hit a solo homer in the second, extending his
hitting streak to 10 games. The Reds added three runs in the
fourth, when Griffey singled and Bichette hit his 15th homer.
"It was a good pitch, a sinker down and away on the black just
above the knees," Anderson said. "He just dove out there. He's a
strong man and he hit it hard."
Bichette has hit safely in his last 17 games. The homer left him
8-for-20 (.400) career off Anderson with three homers.
Benito Santiago's double -- only his 11th hit in his last 73
at-bats -- drove in the final run in the fourth.
Larkin singled with one out in the fifth and scored from first
on Griffey's double into the right-field corner. Griffey took third
on a wild relay throw to Kelly Stinnett but was out at the plate
when Anderson -- backing up home -- retrieved the ball and threw to
the catcher.
Mike Bell, called up by the Reds on July 12, made his first
start at third and singled twice for his first major league hits.
Bell is part of the first three-generation family to play for the
same team -- his grandfather Gus and father Buddy also played for
the Reds. Buddy Bell now manages Colorado.
Game notes
The Diamondbacks will play Cleveland in Cooperstown on
Monday before finishing their road trip in St. Louis and Florida.
... Anderson had not allowed more than two earned runs in any of
his last six starts. ... Dessens singled in the sixth. Diamondbacks
pitchers have given up hits to opposing pitchers in eight of their
last 10 games, letting them go 8-for-19. ... Dessens matched his
career highs with 7 1/3 innings and five strikeouts. ... Jack
McKeon got his 256th win as the Reds manager, moving him one ahead
of Lou Piniella for 11th on the club's list. Piniella led the Reds
to a World Series championship in 1990. ... The Reds activated right-hander Manny Aybar off the 15-day DL following the game and optioned reliever Scott Winchester to Triple-A
Louisville to open a roster spot. Aybar (1-1, 4.83 ERA in 32 relief appearances) went on the DL on July 3 with strained groin
muscles.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Arizona Clubhouse
Cincinnati Clubhouse
Barry happy: Reds extend Larkin's contract after all
Signing rubs Mets GM wrong way
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AUDIO/VIDEO
 Barry Larkin would like to have been able to play in New York.
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