The Associated Press

MIAMI – Sean Casey had three hits and three RBIs as the Cincinnati Reds snapped a four-game losing streak with an 8-4 victory over the Florida Marlins on Saturday night.

Sunday, July 22, 2001

MIAMI – Sean Casey had three hits and three RBIs as the Cincinnati Reds snapped a four-game losing streak with an 8-4 victory over the Florida Marlins on Saturday night.

Ken Griffey Jr. had a single, double and a triple, and had a chance to hit for the cycle, but struck out with two on to end the Reds’ five-run eighth inning.

Lance Davis (3-1) gave up two runs and six hits over 6 2/3 innings to get the win. It was the second straight impressive outing for Davis, who allowed five hits in the Reds’ only complete game of the season, a 9-1 victory over Detroit on Monday.

The Reds were able to offset a pair of two-run homers by Cliff Floyd, who homered in three consecutive games for the second time this season.

Brad Penny (7-4) pitched for the first time since straining a muscle in the left side of his rib cage July 7 against the Devil Rays. He struck out 10 in 7 1-3 innings, but allowed six runs, four earned, and eight hits.

The Reds took a two-run lead in the first on a two-run single by Sean Casey, who went 3-for-4 to break out of a 2-for-24 slump.

Cincinnati made it 3-0 in the second when Griffey singled, moved to third on Casey’s single, and scored when Mike Lowell’s throwing error allowed Aaron Boone to reach base.

Florida closed to 3-2 in the fourth when Luis Castillo singled and Floyd hit his first homer of the game off Davis.

Cincinnati broke it open in the eighth with five runs.

Griffey led off with a triple and scored on a single by Casey, who was replaced by pinch-runner Ruben Rivera. After Boone singled, reliever Johnny Ruffin hit Kelly Stinnett to load the bases.

Pokey Reese walked to make it 5-2, and an error by catcher Mike Redmond on a D.T. Cromer’s fielder’s choice grounder allowed Boone to score. Adam Dunn hit an RBI single to give the Reds an 8-2 lead.

Floyd hit a two-run homer off Danny Graves in the eighth to make it 8-4.

Notes: Rain delayed the start of the game for one hour, 11 minutes. … The Reds fielded their 83rd lineup in 97 games this season. … Dunn scored the first run of his major league career in the first inning. … Davis got his first major league hit in the seventh.

Cubs 5, Astros 4

HOUSTON (AP) – Sammy Sosa hit two home runs as the Chicago Cubs beat the Houston Astros 5-4 Saturday.

Sosa drove a 90 mph fastball from Dave Mlicki over the left-field fence in the first inning for his 32nd homer.

Sosa added No. 33 to lead off the third inning for a 2-1 lead.

Michael Tucker went 2-for-5 in his Cubs’ debut. He doubled and singled.