Saturday, April 27, 2002
Reds Notebook: Dessens off to great start
By John Fay jfay@enquirer.com
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Lost in the drama of the Reds' 4-3 victory was another sterling start for right-hander Elmer Dessens.
Dessens went six innings, allowing one run on four hits. All but Dessens' first start have been dandies. In his last four, he has gone 26 innings, allowing three runs (two earned). That's a 0.68 ERA.
“A great start,” Reds manager Bob Boone said of Friday's outing. “He made one bad pitch all night.”
Rich Aurilia hit the bad pitch out in the sixth. “A hanging slider,” Dessens said. “I tried to get a first-pitch strike with a slider, but it didn't break.”
Before the homer, Dessens threw five scoreless innings, pushing his streak of innings without an earned run to 19 1/3.
Dessens left with a 2-1 lead but got no decision. He's 1-3 on the year but easily could be 3-1. In his five starts, the Reds scored a total of 14 runs. That's 2.8 a start.
DAVIS TO CHATTANOOGA: Left-hander Lance Davis was reinstated from the 15-day disabled list and optioned to Double-A Chattanooga. Davis, who has been on the DL since spring training with a sore shoulder, threw 75 pitches in a simulated game Friday.
“He looked good,” Boone said. “He just needs to fine-tune. He's excited about the way his arm feels.”
He's also excited about pitching again.
“I'm tired of rehabbing,” Davis said. “If I do what I did out there today, I'll be OK. I threw strikes.”
Davis, 25, went 8-4 with a 4.74 ERA last year. This is not a rehab assignment — he can stay down at Chattanooga as long as necessary.
“If I keep throwing the way I am,” Davis said, “I'll be (in Cincinnati) soon enough.”
SACRIFICE STORY: The Reds' 18 sacrifice bunts are the second most in the National League. Montreal has 23.
“We've been very good,” Boone said. “We weren't a good bunting team last year. We got better at the end. The pitchers have bunted extremely well. That's all the work they put in.”
NO NOSTALGIA: Barry Bonds has 31 home runs, the most of any opposing player at Cinergy/Riverfront, but he won't miss the place. His reaction to the stadium closing after this season? “Good,” he said. “It's worn down. It's bad.”
UP NEXT: The Reds play the second game of the three-game series against the Giants. Jose Rijo (1-0, 1.38 ERA) will make his first start at home since 1995. He'll face rookie right-hander Ryan Jensen (1-1, 1.40).
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Reds Notebook: Dessens off to great start
