Using a baseball on a string, Michael Tucker plays keep-away with kids during Thursday's game. (Ernest Coleman photos) | ZOOM |

        Glorifying the Reds' starting pitching on the basis of four games is a little hasty. But maybe those assumptions that the rotation would be mediocre also were premature.

        The group that was supposed to impede Cincinnati's progress instead has hastened it. Thursday, Elmer Dessens maintained the pattern of strong starting performances in the Reds' 4-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

        The Reds (2-2) begin a three-city, nine-game trip in Milwaukee tonight with the growing sense that their starting pitchers can keep them competitive through the first six or seven innings of each game. Should the bullpen regain its anticipated form — which it did in this series finale, with Mark Wohlers and John Riedling contributing a scoreless inning apiece — the Reds would be armed for the long haul.

        “It's a team thing,” Dessens said through interpreter/outfielder Alex Ochoa. “We know we have a good bullpen, but we (starters) know we have a job to do, too.”

        So far, Cincinnati's starters have posted a 2.84 ERA while walking just three batters in 25 1/3 innings. Dessens became the fourth consecutive starter to work at least six innings, lasting a season-high seven innings while surrendering seven hits and Pittsburgh's lone run.

Dmitri Young points to Reds dugout after his 3-run double. | ZOOM |

        “It's a good thing,” said Opening Day starter Pete Harnisch. “The guys will grab a little more confidence. Every little bit helps. There's not a lot of pressure on the starting pitching. They don't expect us to go seven or eight innings like on a lot of teams, because so many guys in the bullpen can throw the way they do. It's a huge plus. If your pitchers are going six or seven innings early in April, you're doing pretty well.”

        Doubts arose mainly because Harnisch is the only Red who has spent an entire season in a starting rotation.

Barry Larkin tags out Abraham Nunez trying to steal second. | ZOOM |

        Injuries have prevented Osvaldo Fernandez from pitching a full year since 1996. Dessens became a regular member of the rotation only last July. Chris Reitsma's a rookie; Rob Bell had to return to Triple-A for a refresher course last midseason.

        But the Reds haven't been surprised by their starters' success, because they've seen each one pitch effectively for stretches.

        “Anybody with decent stuff who hits his spots is going to make out in this league. We certainly have the guys who can do that,” manager Bob Boone.

        “If you compare our starters to others around the league, on paper, there are other clubs that might have more quality,” said Wohlers, who backed up one of the best rotations of recent times when he played for Atlanta. “But Pete's strong. Ozzie's throwing the heck out of the ball. Reitsma's probably the most impressive 23-year-old pitcher I've ever seen. If he keeps his head level, he's going to be here for quite some time and win a lot of ballgames. He's extremely impressive — not only his stuff but also his maturity on the mound and his knowledge of what to do with his pitches.”

        That description would fit Dessens, who was 10-5 after joining the rotation in last season's second half. “I left some pitches up,” he said. “Luckily, the hitters aren't as sharp as they are in the middle of the season.”

        Dessens suffered two bruises on his right forearm upon being struck by comebackers hit by Brian Giles in the first inning and Aramis Ramirez in the second.

        “Not once did I think about coming out of the game,” said Dessens, who threw 64 strikes in 98 pitches.

        The Reds were thankful for that.

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