Wednesday, July 04, 2001
Ritchie bounces back from 0-8
By Joe Kay
AP Sports Writer
— Todd Ritchie already has one distinction — the first Pirates starter to open a season 0-8. He's well on his way to another — the first Pirates starter to open 0-8, then finish with a winning record.
Ritchie pitched into the seventh inning Tuesday night to get his fifth straight win, and John Vander Wal and Brian Giles homered as Pittsburgh beat the Reds 3-2.
After that 0-8 start, Ritchie decided his goal for the rest of the season would be to finish with a winning record. He hasn't lost since, putting together the first five-game winning streak of his career and the first by a Pirate since Denny Neagle in 1995.
Ritchie insists he's not doing much different, except winning.
“I haven't changed anything,” said Ritchie, who gave up three hits and one run in 6 1-3 innings. “Everything's the same. I've got a little more confidence, I think, and I'm throwing the ball where I want to instead of hanging them in the wrong situations.”
He didn't hang many pitches while shutting down the Reds, who managed only Bill Selby's sacrifice fly in the seventh. By that time, Ritchie was covered in sweat and starting to tire on a humid night.
“I was sweating quite a bit, but I don't think it hindered me,” he said. “My slider wasn't as sharp as it usually is. It didn't have its usual break — that was evident because I didn't strike out anyone.”
During the five-game winning streak, Ritchie has given up only six earned runs in 35 1-3 innings, a 1.53 ERA.
“That 0-8 isn't indicative of how good he is,” said Reds leadoff hitter Alex Ochoa, who went 0-for-4. “He mixed it up tonight. I know he pitched me differently every time.”
The first two losses in that 0-8 streak came against the Reds, who didn't get many more runs but managed to get a couple of wins. Giles thinks it's indicative of Ritchie's season.
“He's thrown pretty well all year,” Giles said. “He really didn't get much run support. Now we're finally starting to score some runs for him.”
Three relievers held the Reds to two hits the rest of the way. Mike Williams, coming off his first blown save of the season, allowed a run in the ninth but still earned his 17th save in 18 chances.
The NL's worst road team (12-31) has won the first two games of the series — only the third time this season the Pirates have won consecutive road games.
They came to the right place to do it. The Reds have the majors' worst home record, losing 30 of 40 games at Cinergy Field.
The four-game series matches the NL's two bottom teams. By taking the first two games, the sixth-place Pirates have closed within a half-game of the Reds in the NL Central.
Giles has been the offensive leader in the two games, getting three hits in each. He had a single, homer and a double in his first three at-bats Tuesday, then drew a walk. He leads the Pirates with 18 homers and a .341 average.
Although manager Lloyd McClendon thinks that Giles should represent the Pirates in the All-Star game, the outfielder isn't hopeful.
“Too many outfielders are having great years,” he said. “It would be tough.”
Pirates Notes: First-round draft pick John VanBenschoten (from Milford high) signed for a $2.4 million bonus — the biggest in Pirates history. ... INF John Wehner, who went on the disabled list June 6 with a dislocated shoulder, was activated. He sacrificed as a pinch-hitter.
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Ritchie bounces back from 0-8
