CINCINNATI – Wily Mo Pena doubled home the tying run in the eighth inning and Ray Olmedo followed with a pinch-hit double Saturday night, rallying the Cincinnati Reds to a 7-6 victory over the Colorado Rockies.

The Rockies blew four leads in a back-and-forth game between the NL’s two worst teams, falling to 7-35 on the road – worst in the majors. The Rockies have yet to win a series on the road.

Ken Griffey Jr. hit a solo homer for the second consecutive game, leaving him with 520 career home runs. Rich Aurilia also had a two-run homer and an RBI single, helping the Reds play catch-up.

Adam Dunn started Cincinnati’s fourth comeback with a double in the eighth off Dan Miceli (0-1), and Pena doubled down the line in left to tie it at 6. Olmedo put the Reds ahead for the first time with his third pinch-hit RBI of the season.

Jason Standridge (1-0) pitched an inning for the victory. David Weathers got the final two outs for his fifth save in seven chances.

Left-hander Eric Milton lasted only five innings, allowing the Reds to tie their franchise record for going deepest into a season without a complete game. The 2001 club also went its first 91 games without one.

Cincinnati’s rotation has given up the most runs and pitched the fewest innings in the NL.

Milton was one of the majors’ biggest underachievers in the first half, losing 10 games. Milton, in the first season of a three-year, $25.5 million deal, has given up 29 homers, most in the majors.

Luis Gonzalez had a pair of run-scoring doubles, and newcomer Eric Byrnes – acquired from Oakland in one of Colorado’s two trades over the All-Star break – gave the Rockies their final lead, 6-5, with a run-scoring single in the seventh.

Rookie left-hander Jeff Francis held the Reds without a hit through the first three innings. The second time through the order was more of an ordeal for the 24-year-old pitcher, who was Colorado’s top draft pick in June 2002.

Felipe Lopez led off the fourth with a double, and Aurilia hit the next pitch into the first row of seats in left-center for his eighth homer. One out later, Griffey lined his 19th homer just over the wall in right field, tying it at 3.

Griffey remains in 16th place on the career list, one behind Ted Williams and Willie McCovey.

Colorado’s Aaron Miles extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a single.

Notes: Miles’ hitting streak is tied for second longest on the Rockies this season. Clint Barmes hit in 12 straight in May. … Miles’ career best was a 13-game streak last July. … Ryan Spilborghs is the 14th rookie to appear for Colorado this season. That matches Atlanta for most in the majors. … Francis was the 329th pitcher to give up a homer by Griffey. … Reds 1B Sean Casey grounded into his 22nd double play, by far the most in the majors. Ernie Lombardi set the club record by hitting into 30 in 1938. … Milton’s ERA rose a point to 6.93. He has failed to go seven innings in 18 of his 20 starts.

AP-ES-07-16-05 2217EDT


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