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The Cincinnati Reds sent two pitchers — and some of their bad luck — to the Dayton Dragons Monday night.
Elizardo Ramirez allowed three runs — two on a booming homer that hit the video screen — over six innings to stay on his rotation schedule during the All-Star break. Grant Balfour pitched an inning for the first time in more than a year, retiring the side.
Still, the Dragons lost 4-3 in 10 innings to the Swing of the Quad Cities, although Josh Holden and Mike DeJesus made the finish exciting at Fifth Third Field.
A Swing run in the 10th nullified two homers and three RBIs by Dayton shortstop Adam Rosales — who also hit the scoreboard. In the bottom of the inning, Eric Eymann singled, went to second on a wild pitch and third on a Josh Holden drive to center that Shane Robinson dove to catch.
Holden fouled off several pitches before flying out and so did DeJesus before ending the game on a hard grounder to first. “I was sitting on fastballs,” DeJesus said. “That’s all he was throwing. I was wondering why I was missing those pitches.”
Balfour, from Australia, wondered if he’d ever pitch those pitches. Signed by Reds general manager Wayne Krivsky from the Twins, Balfour hadn’t pitched since undergoing elbow and shoulder surgery in May and September 2005.
“I’ve thrown in the bullpen, but not in a game until (Monday),” Balfour said. “I felt good.”
Balfour will pitch another inning Wednesday in South Bend and two innings Saturday in Dayton.
Ramirez has flashes of brillance and then huge flashes of diaster … hope he can get it together
Get it together? He’s been outstanding for the Reds since his call up and he’s 23 years old….I’m thrilled with what he’s done this year.
i have to agree with bill here. i don’t know if outstanding is quite the word i’d use, but certainly refreshing.
how much money have we spend on free agent veteran guys (who know how to win), asking them to do only one thing: pitch league average innings. elizardo stepped in and has done that and a little better without batting an eye, and it’s nice to see. If you watch the reds it’s easy to think that pitching a quality start is like climbing everest.
good to see balfour in action, i hope he can provide a boost to the pen. coffey is falling off a cliff right now, but belisle looks great and hopefully he and guardado can stabalize the back end. balfour and coffey in the middle, the rest either sit-lefties or mop up.
I plan on being in South Bend for the game Wednesday, hopefully Balfour has another good showing.
Great to see Balfour getting into a real game. Like riding a bike, I hope.