Tuesday, October 05, 1999Parris: 'Bad night for a bad game'
BY JOHN FAY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Steve Parris summed it up in 10 words.
![[parris]](http://reds.enquirer.com/img/photos/1999/10/100599parris_160x160.jpg)
Steve Parris agonizes in the dugout.
(AP photo)
| ZOOM |“It was a bad night to have a bad game,” Parris said.
Parris, the starter in the Reds' 5-0 loss to the New York Mets in the one-game playoff for the National League wild-card berth, put the Reds in a hole they never could get out of.
Parris lasted only 2ö innings, allowing three runs on three hits.
With the way New York's Al Leiter pitched — a complete-game two-hitter — Parris would have had to be nearly perfect.
Instead Parris, 11-4, struggled from the start. It was the biggest start of Parris' career. Was he nervous?
“Nervous energy maybe,” he said. “Maybe, I was too pumped up.”
He allowed a hard-hit single to Rickey Henderson to start the game. The next batter, Edgardo Alfonzo, then took Parris out to straightaway center field. It was Alfonzo's 27th home run of the year.
But it wasn't something you would have expected. Alfonzo entered the game 0-for-9 against Parris, and Parris had allowed only two home runs over seven starts and 39ö innings.
“It was up in the zone,” Parris said of the pitch to Alfonzo.
An out later, Parris walked Mike Piazza. But Robin Ventura hit into a double play to end the first.
Parris got the next five Mets routinely. Then he walked Alfonzo and allowed a double to John Olerud.
“I was behind everybody all night,” Parris said. “I was pressing a little.”
Denny Neagle was already warming up when Olerud hit the double.
McKeon had Parris intentionally walk Mike Piazza, then brought on Neagle to get the left-hander vs. left-hander matchup against Ventura.
Neagle was making his first relief appearance since Sept. 26, 1998.
“I knew there was a good chance I'd pitch,” Neagle said. “I was hoping Stevie P. would have a great game and they wouldn't need me. But I told them I felt great and was ready to go.”
Neagle walked Ventura on a 3-2 pitch to make it 3-0.
But he said the fact that he hasn't relieved in so long had nothing to do with it.
“It's something I'm used to,” Neagle said. “I've done that the last two years with the Braves. Tonight, we just got outpitched by Al Leiter.”
Parris was 4-2 with a 3.12 ERA in his six starts since coming off the disabled list Sept. 3.
The Reds left Parris, 31, behind in spring training in favor of Jason Bere, largely because Parris had minor-league options. He's been their most consistent starter since being recalled May 3.
Parris won 11 games and was 4-2 with a 3.12 ERA in six starts since Sept. 3.
“I don't want to look at the season right now,” he said. “Today was an one-game playoff. I wanted to get us off on the right foot, and I didn't.”
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Parris: 'Bad night for a bad game'