Jose Rijo gave up one run and three hits and said he felt no pain. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        DAYTON, Ohio — Even if he doesn't pitch again, former Reds World Series hero Jose Rijo got his wish Wednesday night.

        After pitching three innings for the Single-A Dayton Dragons, the 36-year-old Rijo left the mound in triumph, tipping his cap to the more than 8,768 fans at Fifth Third Field after freezing a 20-year-old third baseman with a slider for a called third strike.

        “I want to keep pitching,” Rijo said after he held the West Michigan Whitecaps to one run on three hits.

        “I think with what I showed out there tonight, I'll get another chance,” Rijo said after his first professional pitching performance since 1995. “I was a little nervous, a little scared, in the first and second innings. But in the third inning, after I knew my arm was OK, I was very, very happy with my pitches.”

Rijo shares laugh with young Dragons before the game. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        Rijo said his next stop is Double-A Chattanooga, although there was no official word Wednesday night from the Reds. Player development director Tim Naehring was at Fifth Third Field to watch Rijo but could not be reached for comment.

        As for Rijo, if his arm holds up, he won't stop until he returns to the Reds' pitching staff.

        “I want to be in Cincinnati very soon,” he said. “Two, three more starts, and I'll be right back in Cincinnati. I want to be on the team.”

        Rijo, the World Series MVP in 1990 when he won two games and led the Reds to a sweep of the favored Oakland A's, hasn't pitched in the majors since July 18, 1995, when he felt a sharp pain in his elbow in a game in San Diego. Rijo called the trainer to the mound and walked slowly off the field, holding his right arm, fighting back tears and wondering if his career was over.

        “It wasn't the way to go after pitching so long,” he said Wednesday night.

Rijo warms up. (Steven M. Herppich photo) | ZOOM |

        Rijo would have five operations on his right elbow. He attempted his last formal comeback in spring training 1998, but pain forced him to give up. He had a 111-87 record and 3.16 ERA in 12-plus major-league seasons.

        Rijo was back Wednesday, albeit in the low minor leagues pitching against players barely old enough to remember his World Series exploits. He threw 52 pitches — 34 for strikes — and said he had no pain.

        Rijo's final pitch was his best. A sharp-breaking slider caught West Michigan third baseman Miguel Peguero looking at strike three, and it took Rijo back to his most glorious days.

        “He had no chance. That last pitch today was Rijo of '90.

        “Today, in the third inning, I felt like I never had surgery,” said Rijo. “All the hard work paid off.”

Teammates stare and fans applaud as Rijo runs to the mound. (Steven M. Herppich photo) | ZOOM |

        Rijo's pitches were timed between 87 and 90 mph, and he worked West Michigan hitters into two double plays.

        In the first inning, after Peguero reached on an error, Rijo battled Ronnie Merrill with an 11-pitch at-bat that ended with Merrill hitting into a double play.

        Merrill and Rijo had met before. Merrill was 12 years old and Rijo was the reigning World Series MVP. It was March 1991, and the Reds had returned to Plant City, Fla., for spring training as the defending World Series champions.

        “He had the blister in the World Series, and I was 12, so I thought it was a big deal,” said Merrill, a native of Seffner, Fla. “I asked him how his blister was, and he said, "Fine.' He was nice to me. You never know what to expect.”

        But West Michigan designated hitter Forrest Johnson didn't know who Rijo was until he learned on television Tuesday night that Rijo was a former World Series star. Rijo got Johnson to ground to the mound to lead off the second inning.

        “My control was a little off today,” Rijo said. “My mechanics were off a little bit. But that can be fixed. I'm on schedule. I'm a very lucky person.”

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