Sunday, July 16, 2000
REDS NOTEBOOK
Staff isn't missing Neagle - yet
By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer
DENVER — So far, the rotation is just fine without Denny Neagle.
Since the Neagle trade, Reds starting pitchers have gone an average of 7ô innings an outing and are 3-0 with a 4.03 ERA, which is impressive considering all three starts were in Coors Field.
Scott Williamson made his second straight quality start for the Reds.
Williamson went six innings, allowing three runs on five hits, in the Reds' 7-4 victory over the Colorado Rockies Saturday. He walked four and struck out three. The six innings were a career high.
“He did a great job,” Reds manager Jack McKeon said. “We were going to send him out there for the seventh, but he said he was a little tired, so we went with the fresh arm.”
Williamson was especially impressive in the fifth. The Rockies loaded the bases with no outs. But Williamson escaped, allowing only a run, which scored on Jeffrey Hammonds' sacrifice fly.
“I've been in those situations before as a reliever,” he said. “(Pitching coach Don Gullett) used to tell me, "If you ever go back to starting, this experience will help you.' It did.”
Gullett was pleased with Williamson's outing.
“He threw the ball well,” Gullett said. “He got a little tired. It was a hot day and you have the thin air. The stamina will come. He's got what it takes to be great starter.”
MAKING A CASE: Sean Casey is hoping to reverse last year by finishing strong after a slow start. Last year he started strong and finished slow.
Casey extended his hitting streak to eight games with a double Saturday. He was 1-for-4 with a walk but hit the ball hard four times.
He went 7-for-14 with three doubles, two home runs and six RBI in the series. He is hitting .424 (14-for-33) during the streak and .348 (31-for-89) over the last 23 games.
“I've felt pretty good up there for a while,” Casey said. “I think when the year's over, I'm going to have some good numbers.”
Casey spent the All-Star break in Jupiter, Fla., where he and his wife, Mandy, are building a house.
“It was nice,” he said. “We went to the beach. I didn't take off my shirt. I'm too white.”
PETE'S OK: Pete Harnisch felt no ill effects Saturday of Friday's 123-pitch, complete-game performance.
“I'm fine,” he said.
Harnisch went through his normal post-start routine.
WILD THINGS: Williamson's wild pitch Saturday was the Reds' 63rd of the season. That put them on pace for 112 in the season.
The National League record is 91 (Houston 1970, Philadelphia 1989). The major-league record is 94 (Texas 1986).
HALL LIST: The stars will come out in Cooperstown, N.Y., for the Hall of Fame induction of Tony Perez, Sparky Anderson and Marty Brennaman on July 23. Forty-nine Hall of Famers in all, the largest contingent ever, are scheduled to attend.
Reds Hall of Famers Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan and Frank Robinson will be there.
Brennaman was particularly pleased to hear Ted Williams plans to attend.
“He's my all-time favorite,” Brennaman said.
UP NEXT: Steve Parris (5-11, 5.26) faces Jeff Weaver (5-7, 4.62) in the opener of the Reds' three-game series at Detroit.
Parris is coming off back-to-back wins. It's the first time this year he has strung together consecutive wins. Parris' ERA is 2.63 over those two starts.
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Staff isn't missing Neagle - yet
