Eddie Taubensee

John Smoltz is making it look easy, and it's not just against the Cincinnati Reds. Smoltz hurled a one-hitter, allowing only a fifth-inning single by Eddie Taubensee, and led host Atlanta over the Reds and former teammate Steve Avery last night, 3-0. Smoltz (4-0) won his 10th consecutive decision against the Reds since June 19, 1994, and improved to 16-10 against Cincinnati in his career. "I really don't know why. I don't go out there pitching against the Reds saying I've won this many in a row," he said.

Eric Anthony called Eddie Taubensee the hero. Taubensee said it was just his turn. Both hit pinch homers in Cincinnati's five-run eighth inning yesterday as the Reds out-homered the visiting Atlanta Braves to win, 9-8. Jerome Walton and Reggie Sanders also homered for Cincinnati, while David Justice, Charlie O'Brien and Chipper Jones connected for the Braves. "I've never been in a game where there were two pinch-hit home runs in an inning," Anthony said. "That's almost unheard of. "To me, Eddie's was the big blow.

Curt Schilling has thrown more innings (48) and more pitches (734) than anybody in the National League this season. And, yes, the Phillies have noticed. So, for the second time in his last three starts, Schill will get an extra day of rest before taking the mound. Instead of pitching Friday, he'll work Saturday night against Houston at Veterans Stadium. The decision was made after Schilling threw on the side yesterday at Cinergy Field. It was a common practice late last season for manager Terry Francona and pitching coach Galen Cisco to wait until after Schilling's side day to decide whether or not he'd be pushed back a day. That it's been done so early in the season is a recognition of his heavy April workload.

For the Cincinnati Reds, there's nothing better than life on the road. Even without Sean Casey, they beat the Los Angeles Dodgers, 7-5, yesterday for their fifth win in six games. "It's crazy, I don't have an answer, I don't think anybody does," winner Pete Harnisch said when asked to explain the Reds' 34-15 road record - by far the best in baseball. The Reds, 24-27 in Cincinnati, begin a six-game homestand tonight. Eddie Taubensee homered and drove in four runs and Casey's replacement, Hal Morris, doubled twice and singled twice as the Reds won for the 29th time in their last 38 road games.

Forget Candlestick Park. It's officially 3Com Park, no hyphen. Capital "C. " Lower case "o" and "m. " The home of the San Francisco Giants and the NFL's 49ers was officially renamed 3Com Park yesterday. 3Com Corp., a Santa Clara data networking company, will pay the city $500,000 for the rights to the name through the end of 1995. The city's Recreation and Parks Commission unanimously approved the change. The company also is paying an undisclosed amount to the 49ers for promotional considerations.

It's not exactly a chink in the armor, but the St. Louis Cardinals used it to their advantage. Terry Pendleton, the Atlanta Braves' usually reliable third baseman, let a potential grounder slide under his glove, which helped the visiting Cardinals rally for three runs and defeat the hot Braves, 5-4, last night. The win halted the Braves' winning streak at six. Atlanta has lost only twice in 15 games. "That was a tough play," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "He generally makes that play.

The way Cincinnati is rolling, Mark McGwire could hit 70 homers in a game and the Reds would still find a way to win. McGwire hit his 61st yesterday to catch Sammy Sosa, but the Reds made another amazing comeback that will make it tough for anyone to catch them. Dmitri Young drove in five runs and Eddie Taubensee hit an upper-deck homer for a 9-7 victory that solidified the Reds' lead and added to their sense that nothing's too improbable for this bunch. Historic homers?

For the first time this season, Gregg Jefferies wasn't in the Phillies' starting lineup last night. The leftfielder strained his right ankle in Monday night's 3-1 loss to the Reds. He'll probably miss today's game, as well, and be ready to resume playing Friday night against the Astros at the Vet. It probably won't bother Jefferies if he doesn't play today. He has just four hits in 27 career at-bats against Pete Harnisch, the Reds' scheduled starter. Jefferies hurt the ankle trying to make a catch on Eddie Taubensee's double off the left-field wall in the second inning.

For three days, the Cincinnati Reds were bullies who broke into the home of the Chicago Cubs and roughed them up. "The Reds pretty much kicked our butts," Cubs centerfielder Brian McRae said. "We were joking that they came into town and took our lunch money and we had to try to get some of it back. " They did, thanks in great part to McRae. He homered, tripled and singled twice yesterday as the Cubs avoided a four-game sweep with a 7-5 victory. Even in losing, the Reds beat up on the Cubs.

The Reds didn't even have to leave Ohio to improve baseball's best road record. Eddie Taubensee singled home two runs in the sixth inning, while Steve Avery and three relievers held Cleveland to four hits as Cincinnati beat the visiting Indians last night, 3-2. Since being swept at home by Cleveland last month, the Reds have won 16 of 22 to climb to atop of the NL Central. They entered the night tied with the Indians for the best road mark in the majors, but with their 23rd win in their last 29 away games, "The Big Road Machine" rolled on. Avery (6-7)

The way Cincinnati is rolling, Mark McGwire could hit 70 homers in a game and the Reds would still find a way to win. McGwire hit his 61st yesterday to catch Sammy Sosa, but the Reds made another amazing comeback that will make it tough for anyone to catch them. Dmitri Young drove in five runs and Eddie Taubensee hit an upper-deck homer for a 9-7 victory that solidified the Reds' lead and added to their sense that nothing's too improbable for this bunch. Historic homers?

For the Cincinnati Reds, there's nothing better than life on the road. Even without Sean Casey, they beat the Los Angeles Dodgers, 7-5, yesterday for their fifth win in six games. "It's crazy, I don't have an answer, I don't think anybody does," winner Pete Harnisch said when asked to explain the Reds' 34-15 road record - by far the best in baseball. The Reds, 24-27 in Cincinnati, begin a six-game homestand tonight. Eddie Taubensee homered and drove in four runs and Casey's replacement, Hal Morris, doubled twice and singled twice as the Reds won for the 29th time in their last 38 road games.

The Reds didn't even have to leave Ohio to improve baseball's best road record. Eddie Taubensee singled home two runs in the sixth inning, while Steve Avery and three relievers held Cleveland to four hits as Cincinnati beat the visiting Indians last night, 3-2. Since being swept at home by Cleveland last month, the Reds have won 16 of 22 to climb to atop of the NL Central. They entered the night tied with the Indians for the best road mark in the majors, but with their 23rd win in their last 29 away games, "The Big Road Machine" rolled on. Avery (6-7)

John Smoltz is making it look easy, and it's not just against the Cincinnati Reds. Smoltz hurled a one-hitter, allowing only a fifth-inning single by Eddie Taubensee, and led host Atlanta over the Reds and former teammate Steve Avery last night, 3-0. Smoltz (4-0) won his 10th consecutive decision against the Reds since June 19, 1994, and improved to 16-10 against Cincinnati in his career. "I really don't know why. I don't go out there pitching against the Reds saying I've won this many in a row," he said.

You never know who is going to turn up in the Phillies' dugout these days. Tuesday night, it was a fan who'd had too much to drink. Yesterday afternoon, it was the old Mike Grace. Displaying the prowess that enabled him to win 11 of his first 20 major-league starts, Grace held the Cincinnati Reds to one run over seven innings at gloomy Cinergy Field. Pragmatically, Grace's effort didn't matter much, because the Phillies' bats did nothing against Pete Harnisch, who gave up only two hits and went the distance for a 1-0 victory in an hour and 58 minutes.

Curt Schilling has thrown more innings (48) and more pitches (734) than anybody in the National League this season. And, yes, the Phillies have noticed. So, for the second time in his last three starts, Schill will get an extra day of rest before taking the mound. Instead of pitching Friday, he'll work Saturday night against Houston at Veterans Stadium. The decision was made after Schilling threw on the side yesterday at Cinergy Field. It was a common practice late last season for manager Terry Francona and pitching coach Galen Cisco to wait until after Schilling's side day to decide whether or not he'd be pushed back a day. That it's been done so early in the season is a recognition of his heavy April workload.

For the first time this season, Gregg Jefferies wasn't in the Phillies' starting lineup last night. The leftfielder strained his right ankle in Monday night's 3-1 loss to the Reds. He'll probably miss today's game, as well, and be ready to resume playing Friday night against the Astros at the Vet. It probably won't bother Jefferies if he doesn't play today. He has just four hits in 27 career at-bats against Pete Harnisch, the Reds' scheduled starter. Jefferies hurt the ankle trying to make a catch on Eddie Taubensee's double off the left-field wall in the second inning.

As Phillies reliever Darrin Winston threw his warm-up pitches in the bottom of the ninth inning last night, Cincinnati Reds manager Jack McKeon whistled his cleanup hitter, Eddie Taubensee, back to the top step of the dugout for a little counseling. "You can hit this guy," McKeon told Taubensee. "Just try to hit it up the middle. " Alert the kangaroo court, because Taubensee clearly defied his manager. With a runner on second and one out in a 1-1 game, the Reds catcher decided a hit up the middle wasn't good enough.

After six straight losses, Terry Francona had sort of lowered his expectations. All he hoped for, the manager said while kibitzing before last night's game against the Reds, was that the Phillies didn't get into a big hole right away. Maybe even scored a couple of early runs to take the pressure off. Then he took his seat in the dugout and watched as starting pitcher Tyler Green gave up four runs in the top of the first. "That wasn't exactly the formula we had in mind," he later noted wryly.

How bad are things going for the Phillies? They lost yesterday, even though Mike Williams made one of the strongest starts of his career. He was betrayed by his defense, haunted by a wild pitch, and beaten by a two-run single by the opposing pitcher, who, at the time, was hitting .098. The Cincinnati Reds completed their first four-game sweep in Philadelphia since 1961 by defeating the listless Phillies, 3-1. They wound up winning all six of their games at Veterans Stadium to sweep their season series in Philadelphia for the first time since 1969, when Gene Mauch's Phils played at Connie Mack Stadium.