Reds Pound Padres’ Benes in First Inning : Baseball: Cincinnati scores six runs in first, goes on to beat Padres, 8-2.

Andy Benes was shaving, thinking about what had just transpired Tuesday night in the Padres’ 8-2 defeat to the Cincinnati Reds, when his right hand slipped, and he nicked his neck, deep enough to draw blood.

He clogged the cut with a piece of tissue paper, slowly dressed, and then found the media waiting for him like a group of vultures, wanting explanations for that disastrous six-run, four-hit, two-homer, first inning.

Then, after answering question after question for 30 minutes, he had an appointment with his in-laws, and about 18 other friends and family members, who had traveled from Evansville, Ind. Great, just what he wanted, to recount the moments of this game.

Who was the wise guy who said life in the big leagues was supposed to be a dream come true?

“Believe me, I didn’t think it’d be like this,” Benes said.

Benes, the former Olympian and No. 1 pick in the major league draft in 1988, is having difficulty believing what has happened in his two-year career, and is dumbfounded by this season.

He worked out during the winter harder than he has in his career, coming to spring training in the best shape of his life. His fastball was better than ever. His slider was sharper than ever. And the changeup was coming along.

“That’s what makes this so hard to understand,” he said.

After nearly three months, and 15 starts, Benes is 4-8 with a 4.20 ERA. He has only one more victory than either Adam Peterson and Jose Melendez, who have made 12 combined starts. Going back to last season, he has won four of his past 22 starts. Instead of showing signs of improvement, he has yielded a 9.64 ERA his past three starts.

“I think the biggest thing is that he’s just going through on-the-job training,” Padre Manager Greg Riddoch said. “He just doesn’t have the experience, and when he makes a mistake, it ends up costing him.”

And, oh, how Benes paid the price Tuesday night.

“I never, ever, had anything like that happen to me,” Benes said. “What an inning.

“When you go out there and take the team out of the game in the first inning like that, chances are pretty slim you’re going to come back.”

It was an inning that lasted an agonizing 42 pitches, covering nearly 30 minutes, and when it ended, the Reds had six runs, two homers, and the crowd of 26,583 rejoicing at Riverfront Stadium.

The other sound you heard was Benes screaming into the night.

“Actually, I was kind of proud of myself,” Benes said. “I only lost my temper one time.”

That’s when Benes walked slowly off the field after the inning, into the dugout, calmly took off his cap and glove, and began wildly gesturing toward home plate umpire John McSherry. The next thing, anyone knew, Benes had disappeared down the dugout steps, realizing it might not be wise for McSherry to be privy to his opinion.

Benes was upset about a fastball on a 2-and-2 count to Chris Sabo when the game still was scoreless. Benes thought it was a strike. Padre catcher Benito Santiago thought it was a strike. McSherry ruled it a ball.

The next thing Benes knew, he walked in Sabo, forcing in a run. . . . Jeff Reed hit a grand slam . . . Herm Winningham followed with his first homer of the season . . . and Benes was looking for a place to hide.

“I could have gotten out of the inning right there,” Benes said. “The inning could have been over, and they wouldn’t have even scored.”

Benes then allowed his voice to trail off, he paused, and said: “I’ve got no excuses, and I’m the last one to feel sorry for myself, but I’m frustrated.”

Pardon Benes if he doesn’t care to reminiscence about that first inning as long as he lives, but here’s how it all unfolded:

1) Billy Doran. He broke his bat when he took his swing, but the ball still fell into center for a bloop single. Strangely, it was the only ball hit out of the infield among the first six Reds batters.

2) Billy Hatcher. Trying to sacrifice Doran to second, he bunted down the third-base line, good enough to beat out Paul Faries’ throw to first.

3) Barry Larkin. After fouling off pitch after pitch, he finally lined out to second baseman Tim Teufel, and Hatcher just barely got back to first before being doubled-up.

4) Paul O’Neill. He walked on five pitches, loading the bases, and marking the first sign that Benes had control problems.

5) Hal Morris. It took 10 pitches, five after a 3-and-2 count, before he popped up to shortstop Tony Fernandez for the second out.

6) Chris Sabo. Falling behind 2-0, Benes evened the count before he thought he struck out Sabo. Sorry, ball three. The next pitch wasn’t close, forcing in a run.

7) Jeff Reed. He is the hitter that sent Benes over the edge. Reed, who entered the game with only six extra-base hits and one homer all season, drove a 0-1 changeup off the facing in right-field for his first career grand-slam. “I don’t know why he threw me a changeup,” Reed said. “I mean, the guy throws hard. That one was a mistake.”

8) Herm Winningham. The only thing that could have been more surprising than Reed’s homer would be, yes, Winningham hitting a homer. On a 3-2 pitch, Winningham blasted a fastball for first homer of the season into the right-field seats.

9) Pitcher Chris Hammond. Hammond hit a ball deep into the right-field corner, toward the wall, but a fan leaned over and touched the ball, ending the inning with a fan interference call. No big deal. Hammond later singled, and most important, pitched 6 1/3 innings for the victory.

Mercifully, the inning had ended.

“It’s been the most frustrating time I’ve ever had to go through,” Benes said, “but when things finally do go right, just think how good I’ll feel.”

Benes wound up lasting 3 1/3 innings, allowing six hits, four walks and seven earned runs before giving way to a host of relievers, including Tim Scott, who made his major league debut.

“I figured if I don’t get in this game,” Scott said, “I’d never get in one.”

It was a brief stint. Scott threw only four pitches, striking out O’Neill on three pitches and retiring Morris on a fly ball to right. But it was moment he’ll savor forever.

“It was well worth the wait,” Scott said. “I was so excited when I was out there, I didn’t even know who was at bat. But it couldn’t have been a better debut. Pitching against the world champions, and doing all right.

“The only thing is, I forget to ask for the ball after the strikeout. It would have been nice to have that one for my first strikeout.

“Oh, well, hopefully, I’ll get a few more.”

Said Benes: “I felt happy for him, because I still remember how special it was in my first one.

“I just wish I could have a few more, too.”