CINCINNATI SPORTS LAST WEEK

On Monday, the Reds met the Cubs in Wrigley Field. Bronson Arroyo pitched for the Reds. Cincinnati had a 6-4 lead going into the bottom of the ninth. David Weathers went to the mound and Stormy didn't get a batter out as they went down 7-6.


On Tuesday night, Aaron Harang went up against Carl Zambrano, the Cubs' stopper, and Harang came out on top again. Edwin Encarnacion hit a homer and Jared Burton and Weathers threw two scoreless innings as the Reds won 5-2.


On Wednesday night, the Reds completed the series with the Cubs. Tom Shearn started for Cincinnati who were only 1-1/2 games out of third place. Edwin Encarnacion homered in the first and Adam Dunn hit his 40th in the fourth. Ken Griffey Jr pulled a groin muscle and the Cubs edged the Reds by a 3-2 score.


On Thursday night the Reds were in San Francisco to take on the Giants. They brought Homer Bailey along from Sarasota to get another major league start. He did a very good job going 5-2/3 innings and allowing just one run. Norris Hopper had three hits and Jason Elison hit his first homer as a Red on the way to a 4-2 win.

In high school football Friday night; Fenwick was shut out by Chaminade-Julienne, Hamilton got stomped by Princeton, Wilmington was thumped by Talawanda.


On Friday night, Matt Belisle started for the Reds. David Ross got his 17th homer and edged his batting average to an even .200. In the eleventh inning with Brandon Phillips on first, Aaron Harang was sent up to sacrifice. Harang put down the bunt and Phillips went from first to third. It was an all-star play and set up the winning run in the 9-8 extra-inning thriller. The Reds had scored five runs in the eighth to tie the game at eight apiece.



Saturday evening, the UC Bearcats welcomed the Marshall University Thundering Herd into Nippert Stadium. The excitement is catching - the 'house' was full. The Cats dominated the game 40-14. This is their best start in fifty years. On to San Diego State next week.

On the west coast, the Reds were playing the second of three against the Giants. Bronson Arroyo pitched and pitched superbly. Sadly, he had no offense to help him. Relievers gave up two in the bottom of the eighth and they lost 2-0.

On Sunday afternoon, the Bengals were in Seattle to play the Seahawks. The defense figured out how to stop the run, thank Goodness, even though they were riddled with injuries. Seattle pushed across a score with a minute to go to give themselves a 24-21 victory. Cincinnati's special terms were certainly not special and the pass defense just didn't hold up.

Down the coast, the Reds were finishing up with the Giants. Aaron Harang made everyone think that the road trip would end with a win but, like the Bengals, couldn't figure out how to get it done. Jeff Keppinger hit his fifth homer of the year to give Harang a 4-0 lead but he blew it with one bad inning when he gave up five runs in the fifth to lose 5-4. The Reds ended the week with a 71-85 record, 12 games out of first and 1.5 games behind St. Louis for third place in the division.

The only good news Sunday had the UC Bearcat football team crack the AP top 25. It may be short lived but it is still quite an accomplishment. Its the first time since 1976 that they have made the list.