GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NL: SAN DIEGO (62-53) at CINCINNATI (49-66)

Livingston, Keppinger lift Reds over Padres

<h3>CINCINNATI 8, SAN DIEGO 3</h3>CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- Class AA Louisville graduates, Bobby Livingston and Jeff Keppinger took the San Diego Padres to school on Saturday.

On the strength of a four run seventh inning, highlighted by a two-run single by Keppinger, the Cincinnati Reds triumphed over the Padres, 8-3.

Livingston (3-2) scattered four hits over 8 1/3 innings. The 24-year-old surrendered three runs, all off the bat of Brain Giles who hit two home runs, a solo blast in the seventh and a two-run shot in the ninth which ended Livingston's outing. Giles now has five home runs on the season.

The lefthander didn't walk a batter and struck out two, needing just 84 pitches to navigate the first eight innings.

Keppinger picked up his first RBI on a run-scoring double in the sixth inning off Padres starter, Justin Germano. The base-hit opened the scoring and gave the Reds a 1-0 lead.

Germano pitched 5 1/3 innings, surrendering just one run on five hits. The righthander struck out five and walked four but did not factor in the decision after being lifted in favor of Cla Meredith in the sixth.

Meredith struck out Alex Gonzalez before inducing a groundball by Livingston, stranding two baserunners to end the sixth inning threat.

However, the Reds would cement the victory in the seventh inning off Justin Hampson (2-3). Following the Keppinger base hit and a walk by Valentin, Gonzalez drove in two more Reds on a double to left field.

The score swelled to 5-1 after the seventh as Hampson allowed four runs on two hits and walked three in just 2/3 innings of work.

The Reds added three more runs in the eighth thanks to some shoddy defense by Marcus Giles, who couldn't handle an Adam Dunn ground ball, allowing two runs to score. Valentin later singled, scoring Griffey Jr. to cap off the Reds scoring.

 

Livingston, Keppinger lift Reds over Padres

<h3>CINCINNATI 8, SAN DIEGO 3</h3>CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- Class AAA Louisville graduates, BobbyLivingston and Jeff Keppinger took the San Diego Padres toschool on Saturday.


Livingston pitched well into the ninth inning and Keppingerhighlighted a four-run seventh as the Cincinnati Reds posted an8-3 victory over the Padres.


Livingston (3-2) scattered four hits over 8 1/3 innings. The24-year-old surrendered three runs, all off the bat of BrianGiles, who hit two home runs, including a two-run shot in theninth which ended Livingston's bid for his first career completegame.


The lefthander didn't walk a batter and struck out two, needingjust 84 pitches to navigate the first eight innings.

Cincinnati broke open a 1-1 game in the seventh with sometwo-out hitting. After Scott Hatteberg led off the frame with adouble off San Diego reliever Justin Hampson (2-3) and the nexttwo hitters were retired, Hampson intentionally walked BrandonPhillips to face fellow lefthander Adam Dunn. However, Dunnwalked to load the bases and Keppinger followed with a two-runsingle to right.


After Javier Valentin walked to reload the bases, Mike Thompsonentered and Adrian Gonzalez greeted him with with a two-rundouble to left that increased the lead to 5-1.


The Reds added three more runs in the eighth due to some shoddydefense by second baseman Marcus Giles, who couldn't handle AdamDunn's ground ball, allowing two runs to score. Valentin latersingled, scoring Ken Griffey Jr. to cap off the scoring.

Keppinger snapped a 0-0 tie with an RBI double in the sixth offPadres starter Justin Germano, who allowed a run and five hitsin 5 1/3 innings.


Giles tied the game with his first homer of the game in theseventh.

 

Livingston, Keppinger lift Reds over Padres

<h3>CINCINNATI 8, SAN DIEGO 3</h3>CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- Class AAA Louisville graduates BobbyLivingston and Jeff Keppinger took the San Diego Padres toschool on Saturday.


Livingston pitched well into the ninth inning and Keppingerhighlighted a four-run seventh inning as the Cincinnati Redsposted an 8-3 victory over the Padres.


Livingston (3-2), who is in his third stint with the Reds thisseason, scattered four hits over 8 1/3 innings. The 24-year-oldsurrendered three runs, on two home runs by Brian Giles,including a two-run shot in the ninth which ended Livingston'sbid for his first career complete game.


The Reds bullpen was worn after a pair of 11-inning losses.Livingston's performance gave his teammates a restful day.

"I was trying to get him a complete game but he go a little<div class="pre">tired," Cincinnati manager Pete Mackanin said. "After the</div>fifth inning I asked for one more inning. With every inning, Igot happier and happier."


"I was in the tunnel (before the ninth) and told myself to gofinish it," Livingston said. "That's why I didn't want to walkGiles."


The lefthander didn't walk a batter and struck out two, needingjust 84 pitches to navigate the first eight innings.

"I used my changeup effectively," Livingston said. "I threwinside when I had to and used offspeed pitches when I was behindin the count. I got a lot of ground balls. It kept themoff-balance."


"We hit a lot of balls hard early in the game," San Diegomanager Bud Black said. "We kept hitting ground balls to theleft side. As the game went on his sinker got better."

Cincinnati broke open a 1-1 game in the seventh with sometwo-out hitting. After Scott Hatteberg led off the frame with adouble off San Diego reliever Justin Hampson (2-3) and the nexttwo hitters were retired, Hampson intentionally walked BrandonPhillips to face fellow lefthander Adam Dunn. However, Dunnwalked to load the bases and Keppinger followed with a two-runsingle to right.


Keppinger has hits in 16 of his 20 games since the All-Starbreak and is hitting .366 with 19 RBI.


"What can you say about Keppinger?" Mackanin said. "He continuesto get big hits."


After Javier Valentin walked to reload the bases, Mike Thompsonentered and Adrian Gonzalez greeted him with a two-run double toleft that increased the lead to 5-1.


The Reds added three more runs in the eighth due to some shoddydefense by second baseman Marcus Giles, who couldn't handle AdamDunn's ground ball, allowing two runs to score. Valentin latersingled, scoring Ken Griffey Jr. to cap off the scoring.

Keppinger snapped a scoreless tie with an RBI double in thesixth off Padres starter Justin Germano, who allowed a run andfive hits in 5 1/3 innings.


The double followed an intentional walk to Dunn.


"It seems like they're doing that a lot lately," Keppinger said."The best time to hit is when there are men on base. There area lot of holes. Germano doubled up on me. He threw me thesame pitch twice, the changeup."


"We liked the matchup with Germano against Keppinger, betterthan Germano against Dunn," Black said.


Keppinger, who was leading the International League with a .368average when the Reds recalled him on July 7, delivered.

"I don't know anything about him," Germano said. "I threw him achange up and if he made an out it wouldn't have been a bigdeal but he was able to stay on it. Overall, I'm pleased withthe way I pitched. I kept us in the game. You can't be toodisappointed with that."


"He deserved a better fate," Black said of Germano, who startedtwice for the Reds in 2006.


Giles tied the game with his first homer of the game in theseventh.