Sunday, May 16, 1999

REDS 6, PADRES 2

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Parris shows pluck

BY JOHN FAY
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Mark Lewis is greeted by coach Ken Griffey after hitting a two-run homer. (Ernest Coleman photo) | ZOOM |

        Steve Parris, formerly the odd-man-out, formerly the forgotten man, took on a new role Saturday night. Meet Steve Parris, stopper.

        Parris gave the Reds what their better-known and better-paid starters could not. He went 6 1/3 solid innings to lead the Reds past the San Diego Padres 6-2 Saturday night before 25,615 at Cinergy Field. Parris stopped a two-game losing streak and assured the Reds of a winning homestand.

        The victory also snapped a 10-game losing streak against the Padres.

        “It was a nice win,” Reds manager Jack McKeon said. “We needed to break that streak.”

        Mark Lewis and Sean Casey (who else?) provided the offense. Lewis hit a two-run homer, his first, to provide the early lead. Casey broke it open with a two-run triple to center that had the trajectory of slice off the golf tee.

Ex-Red Eric Owens reaches over the fence to rob Brian Johnson of a homer. (Ernest Coleman photo) | ZOOM |

        The Reds scored the six runs on only four hits.

        But Parris (1-0) was the story. Parris, a 31-year-old right-hander, was 6-5 with 3.73 ERA last year for the Reds.

        He had a good March. In fact, he shut down the New York Yankees in last outing of the spring. But he was sent out immediately afterward.

        The Reds made the move, largely because he had minor-league options.

        “I'm still shocked he didn't break camp with us,” Dmitri Young said.

        Parris' chance came when the five starters who did come North hit a rough patch.

        Pete Harnisch and Denny Neagle, the projected Nos. 1 and 2 starters, were awful in their last starts. Thus, the two-game losing streak, entering Saturday.

Greg Vaughn makes a sliding catch. (Ernest Coleman photo) | ZOOM |

        Today's schedule starter and the best so far this year, Steve Avery, won't go because of a blister on his pitching hand. The struggles of the other two starters opened the way for Parris.

        Brett Tomko had pitched so badly in his first five starts that Parris was recalled from Indianapolis. And Parris took Jason Bere's start because Bere had been so ineffective.

        “We needed someone to step up,” McKeon said.

        Parris did. He went 6 1/3 innings, allowing seven hits and three walks (one intentional). He struck out four and induced the Padres to hit into three double plays, two of which Parris started himself.

        “I rely on my defense,” Parris said. “I'm not a strikeout pitcher. I'm location pitcher. I make it hit it at them.”

        Parris was recalled from Indy May 3 and started against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He went 5ô innings, allowing three runs. He then sat 12 days while the Reds used a four-man rotation.

        Rust, apparently, had not set in.

        Parris took a shutout into sixth.

        “He works fast,” Casey said. “He throws strikes. That's what he did last year. That's what he did in spring training.”

        The Reds built a 5-0 lead. They scored a pair in the second. Young struck out but reached first when the pitch, which was in the dirt, went to the backstop.

        The next hitter, Lewis, took an upper-cut swing at a high pitch from Padres starter Sterling Hitchcock. The result was a knockout to left field for Lewis' first of the year.

        “I was just glad to get a hit,” Lewis said.

        Lewis was given the third baseman's job when Aaron Boone was sent down to Triple-A Indianapolis, but he had been struggling at the plate. He was 2-for-13 in his last four games entering Saturday.

        The Reds added three runs with a two-out rally in the fifth. Mike Cameron got it started with a single to left. Barry Larkin walked. Then Casey smoked a ball that literally zig-zagged its way past Eric Owens in center.

        Casey ended up with a triple. He scored on a wild pitch to make it 5-0.

        “When it came off the bat I thought I had it,” Owens said. “Then it knuckled. But it's Sean Casey's year.”

        Said Casey: “I hit it right on the nose. It looked like it was going to left center, then it curved right.”

        Parris finally ran into trouble in the seventh. With one out, Dave Magadan and Owens hit back-to-back singles. Former Red Damian Jackson got them home with a double.

        That was the end of Parris' night. Scott Williamson came in and got the final two outs of the inning. Williamson ended up finishing the game for his second save.

        “Parris gave us what need,” McKeon said. “We needed someone to take deep into the game, so we could finish with one guy. Williamson was fresh.”

        Parris' outing should secure his spot in the rotation for now.

        “I know I can pitch,” he said. “That's not mt decision. Hopefully, I keep pitching well, and I can earn a spot.”

       

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