Monday, August 24, 1998

BY SCOTT MacGREGOR
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Expos starting pitcher Javier Vazquez looks down as Sean Casey rounds the bases after a three-run home run Sunday. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

MONTREAL -- There was much reason for Jason Bere to be hooting and hollering about the sizzling seven shutout innings he threw in a 10-0 defeat of the Expos here Sunday, but the newest Reds starter just stood with a blank expression, answering questions in his typical monotone.

"I'm pretty monotone," he said, cracking a smile. "Get used to it. I'm excited, but I told myself I wasn't going to get too high or too low."

While Bere was not overtly emotional, he was still aware that this was one of his biggest moments of 1998.

"This is definitely a fresh start," he said. "I was just looking for a solid outing."

The Reds, who rescued Bere from the Chicago White Sox' scrap heap, had no idea what to expect. Bere came out of the Reds bullpen twice before being moved into the starting rotation last week; he hadn't started since June 21 with Chicago, when he allowed six runs in four innings.

He didn't look rusty, throwing only 78 pitches in seven innings on three-hit, no-run command. From the third through the seventh innings, he retired 11 in a row.

"Damn, he had good stuff, a nasty changeup," manager Jack McKeon said. "He easily could have not been sharp, but he was very sharp. I don't know what we're going to get out of him, but he throws strikes. You can build on that."

Bere was 12-5 with a 3.47 ERA as a rookie in 1993, and had a solid '94 going when the strike hit, but his history since has been marked by arm soreness and subpar results.

The Reds signed Bere to a minor league contract in July and hope that at 27, he can be part of their rebuilding plans.

"Things weren't working out for me there (Chicago), and when I came here, I was told I'd have an opportunity," Bere said. "The rest of the year is a chance to progress and move on with each start."