Reds Win on Homer by Larkin

CINCINNATI —  Barry Larkin couldn’t get down a bunt, so he picked up the Cincinnati Reds instead.

Larkin fouled off two bunts, then hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning Thursday night to give the Reds a 7-5 victory over the Houston Astros.

The victory increased the Reds’ lead in the National League West to 6 1/2 games over the Dodgers and San Francisco Giants, with the Dodgers starting a three-game series tonight in Cincinnati.

“I don’t know why I couldn’t get the bunt down,” Larkin said. “It’s something I practice every day. When you’re hitting second and there’s a man on first, you’ve got to be able to get the bunt down.

“I didn’t think (Manager Lou Piniella) was going to take the bunt off, but he did. After I hit it, it starting hooking a little bit. I was around first base and I gave (first base coach Tony Perez) a high-five, but I still didn’t know if it had gone out.”

Rob Dibble (7-3) pitched the ninth for the victory.

Eric Davis hit a three-run homer in the seventh, giving the Reds a 5-5 tie.

The Astros hit a season-high four home runs. Glenn Davis hit his 22nd, a two-run shot to give Houston a 5-2 lead in the top of the seventh.

Eric Yelding, pitcher Bill Gullickson and Ken Caminiti also hit home runs for the Astros.