Healthy Larkin pains Cards in Reds win

CINCINNATI -- Barry Larkin returned from the disabled list and delivered a pinch-hit two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning Tuesday night to give the Cincinnati Reds a 6-5 victory over the Cardinals.

The Cardinals brought a seven-game winning streak to Great American Ball Park, where they've lost the first two games of the series on ninth-inning homers.

Aaron Boone hit a solo shot for a 5-4 win Monday night, and Larkin matched the drama with his third career pinch homer off Kiko Calero (1-1). Larkin, who had been on the disabled list since April 14 with a strained left calf, broke into a smile and raised both index fingers as the ball headed for the left-field stands.

The Reds' ninth win in their last at-bat moved them above .500 at their new ballpark for the first time, at 9-8.

The stunning reversal once again highlighted the Cardinals' main weakness -- their bullpen. Brett Tomko gave up eight hits in eight innings, and was in position to get his first victory against his former team before the bullpen let him down.

St. Louis is 2-9 in one-run games and has blown nine saves in 14 chances.

Albert Pujols hit a two-run homer in the eighth and J.D. Drew hit his first pinch homer leading off the ninth off Chris Reitsma (2-1) to put the Cardinals ahead for the first time.

Tomko gave up eight hits, including Austin Kearns' three-run homer in the first, as he gave a good showing for the first time in three starts against his former team. The right-hander also pitched out of a bases-loaded threat in the bottom of the eighth.

Most of the game's intrigue involved Tomko, who badly wanted to beat the Reds. During his 1999 season in Cincinnati, Tomko feuded with former manager Jack McKeon, who publicly questioned the right-hander's toughness. The Reds shipped him to Seattle after the season as part of the package for Ken Griffey Jr.

Playing for San Diego last season, Tomko made two emotional starts and two quick meltdowns against his former team. He walked four in the first inning of the Reds' 4-3 win on Aug. 4 in San Diego, and gave up nine runs in the Reds' 12-10 victory in Cincinnati five days later.

Aaron Boone homered twice in the first inning of that game, and he homered off him again in his next at-bat.

Tomko handled Boone this time around, holding him to an infield single that loaded the bases with two outs in the eight. Adam Dunn flied out to end that threat.

Tomko had more first-inning troubles, giving up Austin Kearns' three-run homer, his 10th. Tomko has given up 16 first-inning runs in seven starts.

Jose Guillen nearly embarrassed Tomko in the fifth, coming up throwing on the pitcher's sharply hit single to right. The ball beat Tomko to first but bounced in the dirt and eluded Casey. Tomko had a sheepish smile as he stood on the base.

Guillen got Tomko in the bottom of the inning, hitting an RBI single that made it 4-2. Guillen has a career-high 11-game hitting streak.

Noteworthy

While the Cardinals were batting in the second inning, the Delta Queen riverboat set off from just outside the ballpark, loudly playing "Camptown Races" and "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" on its calliope. ... Griffey is still trying to get his strength and full range of motion back in his right shoulder, which he dislocated on April 5 while diving for a ball. He's not allowed to swing a bat or toss a ball. "Not much has changed," Griffey said.