Scott Sauerbeck's second year in the big leagues started out a little rough. But things are going smoothly lately.

        The Reds saw that Friday night. Sauerbeck, a Northwest High and Miami Uni versity product, retired the only two batters he faced — Ken Griffey Jr. and Dante Bichette — to help the Pirates to a 6-3 victory.

        That has been the rule for Sauerbeck lately. Since coming off the disabled list July 3 (sprained elbow), his ERA is 2.62.

        That's how he pitched last year when he went 4-1 with a 2.00 ERA in his first year as a big-leaguer. He was a pleasant surprise for the Pirates last year. They picked him in the Rule 5 Draft. He won a job in spring training and made the most of it.

        But when this year started, Sauerbeck messed with what had made him a success last year.

        “I wasn't throwing strikes,” he said. “I was trying to throw the perfect pitch. There becomes a point where you're trying too hard.”

        Sauerbeck, a 28-year-old left-hander, struggled through April with a 5.27 ERA.

        Then he began going back to what he did last year, and his numbers have turned around. He is 5-1 on the year with a 3.55 ERA.

        “I started to relax and believe in myself,” he said.

        Sauerbeck has gotten a lot of work against his hometown club. Friday was his 12th appearance against the Reds. He has a 3.38 ERA and one of his two career saves against them.

        “He's done a good job for us,” Pirates manager Gene Lamont said. “He hasn't been as consistent as he was last year. He was pretty wild early. But now that he's throwing strikes, he's pitching pretty well.”

        Sauerbeck has walked 49 batters in 58ô innings this year. Last year he walked 38 batters in 67ö innings. But it's not only walks that haunt.

        “You have to throw strikes, especially early in the count,” he said. “Sometimes you can throw the ball right down the middle and get people out.”

Pirates 6, Reds 3 Box, runs Top 3 draftees may go unsigned Larkin's next hit No. 2000 Miami grad doing well with Pirates

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