Reds Blank Padres

Dante Bichette grounded into three double plays. San Diego and Cincinnati each stranded seven runners in scoring position. Both teams left the bases loaded.

In a game of wasted chances, Steve Parris made the most of his.

Parris pitched six scoreless innings and hit a bases-loaded sacrifice fly Tuesday night, leading the Reds to a 2-0 victory over the Padres.

Neither run scored on a hit. Parris' sacrifice fly in the second and second baseman Bret Boone's error in the sixth provided the only runs in a game of nonstop threats.

"You want to throw a shutout every time, but you don't expect to score two runs and win the game," said Parris (2-4).

"That's the way our season's been going so far," said Eric Owens, who had two of the Padres' seven hits. "That's the first time we've been shut out. We all thought we had a chance, and we did until the end. When things are going bad, that's what happens. When things are going good for you, the ball finds a hole somewhere."

San Diego (13-19) dropped a season-low six games under .500 with its 10th loss in 13 games. The Padres were coming off a weekend three-game sweep at Arizona in which they struck out 27 times.

The Padres couldn't get a clutch hit against pitcher who has been erratic. Parris came into the game with a 6.21 ERA, but allowed only five hits before leaving for a pinch-hitter with the bases loaded in the sixth.

Parris drove in the first run when the Padres chose to intentionally walk Gookie Dawkins and face him with one out and the bases loaded in the second. Parris hit a fly to medium center and Eddie Taubensee easily beat Ruben Rivera's throw home.

The Padres have had problems getting pitchers out lately. Opposing pitchers are 6-for-14 with a double, a homer and five RBIs in the last seven games.

Parris recoiled in disappointment in the on-deck circle and left his bat on the field when manager Jack McKeon decided to pinch hit Alex Ochoa with the bases loaded and one out in the sixth.

"That's Jack's job. He's trying to get more runs," Parris said. "I understand it, but I don't like it. I was throwing the ball well, and that's really the first time that's happened this year."

Ochoa hit into a forceout and home, but Boone let in a run by dropping a throw from shortstop Damian Jackson on a grounder by Pokey Reese. Boone has six errors this season but hadn't made one in his last 14 games.

"You're trying to keep it to a one-run game," Padres manager Bruce Bochy said. "The guy who dropped the ball is the guy you want to get the ball. He's one of the best. It happens, but it doesn't happen very often."

The Reds also wasted plenty of chances against Brian Meadows (3-3). Bichette grounded into inning-ending double plays in the first, third and fifth, leaving him one shy of the major league record.

It was the first time that a Red grounded into three double plays since Barry Larkin did it July 7, 1993 at Wrigley Field. Bichette avoided the record by doubling off Donne Wall in the seventh.

"He was going for the record there in that last at-bat," McKeon said. "He had a tough night. Everyone has one."

Meadows gave up two runs one earned and five hits in 5 2-3 innings. He matched his career-high by walking six, three of them intentionally.

Notes