Reds Continue to Fail at Home

CINCINNATI — Larry Walker hit a three-run home run and Todd Helton had a solo shot as the Colorado Rockies defeated the Reds, 4-3.

Cinergy Field has been the place where visiting teams bulk up their road statistics. The Reds have the majors’ worst home record at 7-24.

“Bad luck, bad plays, bad karma. There’s a lot of negativity in this city surrounding this ballclub right now,” Barry Larkin said.

Not even Ken Griffey Jr.’s return from a torn hamstring could help the beleaguered Reds, who have lost a season-high six games in a row and dropped 17 games under .500 for the first time in three years.

Griffey singled in three at-bats against Brian Bohanon (4-4) and the Rocky bullpen. He also drew a bases-loaded walk in the fifth for Cincinnati’s first run.

Rocky left fielders had a rough day dealing with the sun. Ron Gant and Jacob Cruz dropped fly balls--Cruz’s error let in a run in the eighth.

Jose Jimenez gave up Bill Selby’s pinch-hit homer in the ninth while getting his 11th save in 14 chances.

Helton, who leads the majors with 79 runs batted-in, extended his hitting streak to a season-high nine games.

Walker’s three-run homer made it 4-0 in the fifth and gave him seven RBIs in the last two games.