NATIONAL LEAGUE Larkin gives the Reds a reason to keep him

Barry Larkin got a pinch-hit single and heard the cheers of the fans.
CINCINNATI (AP) -- Barry Larkin heard the ovation and got the message: His hometown isn't ready to let him go.
How Reds ownership feels is still a mystery.
Larkin got a pinch-hit single and another numbing ovation Saturday, the emotional highlight of the Pittsburgh Pirates' 3-1 victory over Cincinnati.
The crowd of 26,128 rose to its feet when the 40-year-old shortstop came to the plate in the eighth. While a chant of "Barry! Barry!" rang through the ballpark, he singled through the hole at shortstop, then raised his arm to salute the crowd as he left for a pinch-runner.
Just like in the series opener, when he homered in his final at-bat, Larkin was overwhelmed by the reception.
"It's just that it's so unbelievable," he said. "You're humbled by it. You're almost like numb. I think it's a form of communication. They're saying, 'We're not ready for him not to be here."'
Hometown player
Larkin has spent all of his 19 seasons with his hometown team, which has declined to discuss a contract extension so far. The 12-time All-Star wants to play one more season, but might have to do it elsewhere.
Larkin will get one more chance to leave a lasting impression. Manager Dave Miley plans to start him today, when Larkin can be sure of a few more touching moments.
"You don't want to get emotional out there, because it's tough enough to swing," he said.
While Larkin kept his composure, the Pirates took advantage of a pitching staff that has crumbled like no other in Reds' history. Jason Kendall had three hits and Jose Castillo homered off a staff setting all sorts of records.
Castillo's two-run homer in the second off Todd Van Poppel (4-6) was the 235th off the Reds, the most allowed by any pitching staff in the majors this season.
It's a club record for homers allowed and four shy of the NL record, set by the 2001 Rockies. The major league record is 241 homers given up by the 1996 Tigers.
Club record
The Reds also have given up 905 runs, setting a club record for the second year in a row. Horrible pitching has been the main culprit in the Reds' fourth straight losing season, their longest such streak since the 1950s.
The Pirates are wrapping up another disappointing season with a swoon -- only three wins in their last 11 games. They must win the final game today to avoid their fourth 90-loss season in the last seven years.
One of their few consistent pitchers saved them from the mark for at least one more day.
Right-hander Josh Fogg (11-10) allowed three hits in six innings, including a triple and a homer by Darren Bragg. Fogg and left-hander Oliver Perez, who will start today, are tied for the club lead in wins.
Jose Mesa pitched the ninth for his ninth consecutive save, leaving him 42-for-47 overall.
PITTSBURGHCINCINNATI
abrhbiabrhbi
Kendall c5030FLopez 3b4000
Snchez ss3000JCastro 2b4000
ANunez ss1000Casey 1b4000
Bay lf5000Kearns rf4000
Ward 1b3000Dunn lf4010
Gnzalez p0000Bragg cf4121
STorres p0000Vlentin c3000
Mesa p0000Mchado ss3000
CWilsn rf4110Poppel p1010
TRdmn cf4020JaCruz ph1000
Wggntn 3b3110MMtws p0000
Castillo 2b2112Redling p0000
Fogg p3000PNortn p0000
Mckwk rf0000Larkin ph1010
TAlvrz rf1000Freel pr0000
JoAvdo p0000
Totals34382Totals33151
Pittsburgh030000000--3
Cincinnati000010000--1
E--Castillo (11), Kearns (3). LOB--Pittsburgh 9, Cincinnati 5. 2B--Kendall (32). 3B--Bragg (1). HR--Castillo (7), Bragg (4). SB--Kendall (11), TRedman (18). S--Sanchez.
IPHRERBBSO
Pittsburgh
Fogg W,11-10631104
Gonzalez1 1-310003
STorres2-300000
Mesa S,42110000
Cincinnati
Poppel L,4-6553321
MMatthews110011
Riedling1 2-320011
PNorton1-300000
JoAcevedo100000
WP--MMatthews, Riedling. Umpires--Home, Jeff Nelson; First, Marty Foster; Second, Joe Brinkman; Third, Tim Tschida. T--2:22. A--26,128.