Wednesday, July 03, 2002
Sullivan takes a (short) starring turn
His one-third inning produced key K against Houston
By Tom Groeschen tgroeschen@enquirer.com
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Scott Sullivan is known for throwing all those relief innings. Yet one of the shortest outings of his career could prove a turning point for his — and the Reds' — 2002 season.
Sullivan, who mostly has struggled since being hit on the elbow by a batted ball May13 in Milwaukee, threw just one-third of an inning in Monday's 7-5 win over Houston. But it was a huge out. The sidewinding right-hander struck out Astros slugger Richard Hidalgo with the bases loaded and two out in the seventh in ning, preserving the Reds' 7-5 lead.
It was so big the Reds' radio network's restaurant sponsor honored Sullivan with its postgame “Play of the Game.”
“What do I get for that?” a grinning Sullivan asked Tuesday. “Just a, "Way to go, buddy?'”
Something like that, since Sullivan is used to others getting the glory. Monday night it was Luke Hudson, who followed Sullivan with one inning of scoreless relief. It happened to be Hudson's major-league debut, so the media thronged around Hudson afterward — and again before Tuesday's game.
A long reliever by trade, Sullivan in 2001 became the first pitcher to lead the major leagues in relief innings for four consecutive years. This season, he is tied with Los Angeles' Paul Quantrill for most relief appearances in the National League (44).
In 20 appearances since being hit by a one-hop comebacker off the bat of Milwaukee's Richie Sexson six weeks ago, Sullivan is 2-2 with a 7.71 ERA. But he has rallied in the past few days, with three innings of one-run ball to win Sunday's game at St.Louis, then with Monday's big K.
“It's just a matter of being consistent,” Sullivan said. “Maybe I've been thinking too much lately.”
Reds manager Bob Boone said baseball is “a game of feel,” and that all players go through tough times.
“With Sully, we attach it to getting hit (by Sexson), but he's always had a rough stretch in every season,” Boone said. “It's tough to maintain consistency in this game, and I could see the wheels turning in his head. The past two days, I've seen good tempo from him. He wasn't thinking about things as much.”
Hudson, 25, had the whole gang in Fountain Valley, Calif., watching his big-league debut in the eighth inning Monday night.
Some of his old baseball-playing buddies headed to a local sports bar and asked the owner to get the Reds on satellite TV. The owner said he would, if enough people showed up.
Enough did, after word got out.
“One of my friends, Chris Ponchak, did a play-by-play as I was in the game, and he played it back for me (Tuesday),” Hudson said. “I had a bunch of messages to answer today. It was awesome to get in the game in that situation.”
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Sullivan takes a (short) starring turn
