Jose Rijo pitches for the Chattanooga Lookouts Monday night. (AP photos) | ZOOM |

        Jose Rijo said he felt better Monday night in his second minor-league start. But the key, he said, is how he looked.

        “I feel ready (for the major leagues), but I really look ready,” he said. “I look strong.”

        The numbers said so. He pitched three scoreless innings for the the Reds' Double-A Chattanooga affiliate against the Mobile BayBears in Mobile, Ala., allowing one hit with three strikeouts and one walk.

        Rijo began his comeback with the Reds' Single-A team, the Dayton Dragons, by pitching three innings and allowing one run on three hits last week. The 36-year-old right-hander is attempting a comeback after nearly six years out of baseball with arm troubles.

        “Those were three good innings,” he said of his 42 pitches Monday.

       

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“I felt better than I did last time; obviously the numbers showed the difference. My arm feels outstanding. My mechanics were good, and even though I walked one guy, my control was better than last time.”

        Rijo's three strikeouts were two more than he had last week. He struck out back-to-back batters in the third.

        “That's a great sign that I'm throwing better as the game progresses,” Rijo said.

        The right-hander has said that if his Lookouts outing went smoothly, he would pitch for Triple-A Louisville at Charlotte this Saturday. And then if all went well, he could join the big-league club before its homestand ends July 19.

        “That's the plan we've got so far,” Rijo said. “I have to talk to (Reds general manager) Jim Bowden and see what he says. It wouldn't hurt (to start again at Double-A), but I don't want to waste too much time. I feel ready.”

Recent Rijo stories:
Rijo takes first comeback step at Dayton
Double-A next for Rijo

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