The possibility exists, at least in Jose Rijo's mind, that the right-hander will join the Reds during their next homestand, which begins next Thursday after the All-Star break.

        Rijo's next pitching assignment will come Monday, this time for the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts at Mobile. The 36-year-old buoyed hopes of a successful comeback when he allowed one run and three hits in three innings Wednesday night for Single-A Dayton against West Michigan.

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        Rijo said if his Lookouts outing proceeds smoothly, he'll pitch for Triple-A Louisville at Charlotte the following Saturday, July14. And then ...

        “If everything goes according to plan, I should be here when the team comes back,” Rijo said. The Reds' homestand lasts through July19.

        General manager Jim Bowden cautioned that Rijo's possible advancement is a step-by-step process.

        “The only plans we have right now are for him to pitch Monday at Chattanooga,” Bowden said. “His performance and how his elbow responds will determine where he progresses from there.”

        Rijo said he might need a second start in Triple-A, “just to make sure” he's fit to pitch at the major-league level.

        Rijo said he also plans to work with Chattanooga's 19-year-old right-hander, Ricardo Aramboles, the fellow Dominican acquired Saturday from the New York Yankees for reliever Mark Wohlers. Aramboles allowed six runs and eight hits in five innings Wednesday in Chattanooga's 10-1 loss to West Tenn.

        Because the crucial day for a pitcher recovering from an injury is the day after he throws, Rijo felt enthused about his absence of pain Thursday.

        “Real, real good,” he said, describing how he felt. “Not Rijo good. Real good.”

        Rijo said he'll probably be on a 60-pitch workload Monday, which ideally should enable him to last another three innings, or even four.

        “A lot of people felt he did better in the third inning than in the first two (Wednesday), which is a good sign,” Reds general manager Jim Bowden said.

Reds 7, Pirates 1 Brower to start Double-A next for Rijo New ballpark looking up Red-Twins Scouting Report Pirates feeling good Reds box, runs

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