Cardinals Rally By Reds

A 2-for-19 slump is no big deal for Eric Davis.

Davis, the AL comeback player in 1998 after overcoming colon cancer, got his first big hit with the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday, a tiebreaking two-run single in a 4-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

"To me, pressure is not knowing where your next meal is going to come from," Davis said. "Not knowing if they got all the cancer out of your body, that's pressure. This is fun."

Davis, who signed with St. Louis as a free agent, was moved up one spot in the order to cleanup while Ray Lankford recovers from knee surgery. He had only one RBI this year before his bases-loaded single on a 2-0 count off John Hudek went past a drawn-in infield into center field.

"He fell behind in the count, and in that situation you're just looking for a good fastball out over the plate to hit," Davis said. "That's what I got."

Davis said it was way too early to worry about his .150 average.

"Everybody would like to get off to a fast start, but unfortunately it doesn't work that way," Davis said. "I've hit some balls on the button, I just haven't been lucky enough."

Juan Acevedo (1-0) retired Greg Vaughn on a liner to third with runners on first and third on his only pitch of the eighth, then got the last three outs in less dramatic fashion.

The eighth inning has been a disaster zone for the Reds' bullpen, which gave up 12 runs on nine hits and seven walks while losing their first three games at home to San Francisco. This was more of the same.

"We're trying to find someone who can come in and shut the door," manager Jack McKeon said. "Seems like everybody's had a shot at it so far."

Rookie Scott Williamson (0-1) walked Placido Polanco to start the eighth and J.D. Drew singled for only his second hit of the season in 14 at-bats. Hudek walked Mark McGwire n five pitches, loading the bases for Davis.

McKeon brought in Hudek to try to strike out McGwire, but the first three pitches were low and way outside.

"I'm trying to develop a killer instinct and I had it today, but I couldn't get it around the plate," Hudek said. "I've got to quit trying to be so fine."

Cardinals manager Tony La Russa used three relievers in the eighth, with Scott Radinsky retiring Casey on a flyout for the second out.

Casey hit his third home run, his second in three at-bats, with two outs in the first to give the Reds the lead. Jeffrey Hammonds doubled with two outs and scored on an RBI single by Barry Larkin, who had been hitless in 11 at-bats, to make it 2-0.

The bottom of the order tied it for the Cardinals to end 12 consecutive scoreless innings. Backup catcher Alberto Castillo, the No. 7 hitter, doubled with one out, 26-year-old rookie Joe McEwing hit an RBI triple and Jimenez followed with his first career hit and RBI.

Jimenez, a 25-year-old rookie who won all three of his starts last September, lasted seven innings and gave up two runs on six hits. The 1998 Texas League player of the year struck out four and walked one.

Reds starter Brett Tomko also lasted seven innings, allowing two runs and four hits. It was a big improvement over opening day, when he gave up six earned runs and eight hits in 3 2-3 innings during an 11-8 loss to San Francisco.

Notes: The Cardinals' clubhouse was closed about 15 minutes after the game while former actor Christopher Reeve, a quadriplegic, paid a visit. ... Reds third baseman Aaron Boone sat out his third straight start because of an enlarged colon caused by a viral infection. He's listed as day to day. ... The first five batters in the Cardinals' lineup were a combined 0-for-14 before hits by Drew and Davis in the eighth. ... Casey was the first player to homer off Jimenez, who didn't give up a long ball in 21 1-3 innings last September. ... Despite the loss, the Reds are 9-4 against the Cardinals the last two seasons. ... McGwire is 1-for-9 the last three games with three walks and two strikeouts.

©1999 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed