Fans applaud and teammates stare as Jose Rijo runs to the mound. (Steven M. Herppich photo) | ZOOM |

        DAYTON, Ohio — Jose Rijo's appearance for the Dayton Dragons heightened an already celebratory atmosphere on the Fourth of July. The crowd of 8,768 was 1,500 more than capacity.

        Four men came dressed in white T-shirts bearing Rijo's likeness. The shirts read, “Jose Rijo, We know you'll go” on the front. On the back, the thought was completed: “Back to the Show.”

        Rijo walked to the railing behind the bullpen along the third-base line to accept one of the T-shirts from the men. He handed it to Dragons pitching coach Bill Moloney.

        “The fans have given me a lot of support,” said Rijo, who learned Wednesday morning that 67 percent of 5,000 readers who responded to a Dominican newspaper survey supported his comeback efforts.

        Kenny Novak, 36, of Dayton came dressed in a T-shirt bearing an image of the Enquirer's front page the day after the Reds completed their four-game sweep in the '90 World Series. That page shows Rijo tipping his cap to fans in Oakland after winning his second game of the Series.

        “I listened to Game 4 on the radio, and it seemed like Jose would pitch forever,” Novak said. “It's a little bit different to see him pitching for the Dragons.”

        When Rijo emerged from the dugout behind third base at 6:17 p.m., the fans gave him a loud ovation. He tipped his cap before warming up.

        Every move made by Rijo — throwing with catcher J.C. Huguet, toweling off his face, talking briefly with fans — was recorded by the media. Dragons communications manager Brad Eaton said the team issued 20 additional credentials for Rijo's game.

        Rijo planned to celebrate the Fourth of July and his return by taking the Dragons' Latin players out for dinner after the game.

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