SARASOTA, Fla. - Brett Tomko finally got a little work in Friday. He pitched five innings in a Class AA Chattanooga game against the Kansas City Royals AA team.
Tomko allowed nine hits, five runs (four earned). He allowed five singles and three runs in the first, then settled down.
''The results weren't great,'' he said. ''I couldn't spot the ball, and I got the ball up. But the important thing is the shoulder felt fine.''
Tomko, a 24-year-old right-hander, had not pitched in a game since going three innings on March 1. He was scratched from his next appearance (March 5) because of soreness in his throwing shoulder.
Tomko has been ready to go the last week or so, but Reds manager Jack McKeon wouldn't tinker with the rotation to get Tomko in. Thus, the minor-league appearance.
McKeon reiterated Thursday that Tomko's spot in the rotation is in jeopardy because it was doubtful that he could get in shape by the Opening Day (March 31). Now, if Tomko can get back to the form he was in last year, when he went 11-7 with a 3.43 ERA, he is a lock to be in rotation.
Tomko said his outing Friday put him right on schedule.
''I asked to go six innings,'' Tomko said, ''but they didn't want to push it. I'll take three days off, then go six, then go seven the next time out.
''I'll be ready to go.''
Pitching coach Don Gullett said Tomko didn't have his best stuff Friday.
''The arm speed wasn't there,'' Gullett said. ''That's just a result of not throwing in a game.''
Tomko was just happy to be back in a game.
''I didn't enjoy my time on the bench,'' he said. ''I know I can pitch at a certain level. It's just a matter of getting the innings.''
With a second straight rainout Friday, Tomko wasn't the only Red pitching in a minor-league game.
David Weathers pitched in Class A, Mark Hutton in Class AAA and Scott Sullivan in Class A.
''That should keep the rainouts from hurting us,'' McKeon said.
The results were mixed:
- Hutton went four innings and gave up eight runs. ''I stopped counting,'' he said. ''It was a haze.''
- Sullivan allowed only one hit in four innings.
- Weathers went five innings and allowed three runs.
Rain, rain...
After going the first 2 1/2 weeks without a rainout, the Reds had their second in as many days.
Friday's game with Boston schedule for 7:05 p.m. at Sarasota was called about 3 p.m.
Trade talks
Sources say the Reds and Arizona Diamondbacks are having trade discussions that involve Eric Owens.
Owens, who is out of options, is on the bubble as far as making the 25-man roster. If the Reds send him to Indianapolis, he must pass waivers, which is unlikely.
Owens, the 1995 American Association MVP, hit .260 in 27 games with the Reds last year. He spent most of the year at Indy, where he hit .286 with 11 home runs and 44 RBI.
Belk traded
The Reds traded first baseman Tim Belk to Detroit for shortstop Kevin Baez.
Baez hit .274 with five home runs and 54 RBI in 112 games for Salt Lake City last year.
Belk has played the past three years at Indianapolis. He made it up to the Reds briefly in 1996, hitting .200 in seven games.
Opening Day tickets
Tickets are still available for Opening Day against the San Diego Padres. For information, call 421-4510, Ext. 4300.
Stuck in the mud
How wet was it at Sarasota Friday? The Boston Red Sox bus was trying to turn around in right field of one of the practice fields when it got buried to the axles in mud.
Nieves takes it day to day
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