Tuesday, April 13, 1999Starters have gone 7 in 5 straight
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati EnquirerCHICAGO — Steve Avery continued the streak he began, which was good news for the Reds.
Avery allowed only one run and three hits in seven innings Monday, earning the decision in Cincinnati's 7-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.
It was the fifth consecutive game in which Reds starters have pitched into the seventh inning, marking the first time that has happened since the middle of the 1997 season. Avery launched the streak last Wednesday by lasting 7ö innings against San Francisco.
Avery (1-1) relied on changing speeds to stop Chicago's offense. Mark Grace, Sammy Sosa and Glenallen Hill, the Cubs 3-4-5 hitters, went 1-for-8 off him.
“I think I threw 40 change-ups out of 108 pitches. That's a number I'm going to cut down once I start feeling a little more comfortable with my fastball,” said Avery, who was annoyed by his five walks. “Once I get my fastball going a little bit more and throw more strikes, I'll be more effective.”
After today's scheduled off-day, Pete Harnisch, who shut out St. Louis on six hits last Friday, will attempt to extend the streak when he opposes Chicago's Jon Lieber on Wednesday. Reds start ers haven't lasted into the seventh inning for six games in a row since June 25-July1, 1993, when Tim Belcher, Jose Rijo (twice apiece), John Smiley and Tom Browning did it.
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