News
Bailey runs Reds' win streak to five
Right-hander goes career-best eight shutout innings
By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com
08/28/09 11:59 PM ET
CINCINNATI -- Over two years removed from his Major League debut and following numerous trips to Triple-A and back, the Homer Bailey everyone eagerly anticipated may have finally arrived Friday night. Bailey melted radar guns and Dodgers bats with eight scoreless innings during a 4-2 Reds win at Great American Ball Park that extended the team's winning streak to a season-high five games. The eight innings were a career high, as were Bailey's seven strikeouts. He allowed seven hits, all singles, and one walk while throwing 115 pitches. "I think it's just this much time being up. It's probably my longest so far," said Bailey when asked what's been different during his back-to-back victories. "I'm getting comfortable and realizing the things I can do and can't do." What Bailey (4-4) did was fire mid-to-high 90s heat throughout the game with little deviation. What the Dodgers didn't do was get to him -- even during a couple of sticky situations. The biggest moment of truth was the top of the eighth inning as the Reds led, 4-0. With Bailey already over 100 pitches, Rafael Furcal led off with a bunt single and Andre Ethier drew a one-out walk to bring Manny Ramirez to the plate. That brought Reds manager Dusty Baker out of the dugout, seemingly to bring in Nick Masset out of the bullpen. But after a lengthy chat, Bailey talked Baker into leaving him out there. "I really wanted to see the look on his face and in his eyes," Baker said. "That's what you're looking for. If I didn't see what I liked, I would have went to the bullpen." Ramirez lined out to center field. On the 115th and final pitch of Bailey's night, he got Casey Blake to look at strike three on a 97-mph fastball. What did Bailey say that convinced his manager to stay with him? "I was like, 'I started it, let me finish it,'" Bailey said. "I couldn't say enough about him letting me finish it like that. I think it's part of the growing process that a lot of young pitchers go through. I realized at that point I have nothing to lose. Manny is a great hitter. If he hits a home run there, I'm still in line for the win. So I'm just going to go after him. The biggest thing in the back of my mind is I'm not walking him. No matter what, I am not walking him." The last time Bailey faced the Dodgers at Chavez Ravine on July 21, he lasted only 2 2/3 innings and gave up a career-high nine runs in a 12-3 loss. That Bailey was nowhere to be found Friday. He has allowed one run over his past 15 innings in two starts. "He throws hard and his ball isn't real straight," said catcher Corky Miller, who was working with Bailey for the first time. "He kept some guys off balance by having them thinking about offspeed [pitches] and putting the ball inside on a lot of these guys." With two outs in the bottom of the second against Dodgers starter Chad Billingsley (12-8), Wladimir Balentien hit a double to right field and went to third on a wild pitch. Jonny Gomes drove him in with an RBI single into left field. In the third with one out, Drew Stubbs hit a broken-bat, bloop-RBI single to center field that scored Miller from second base. Joey Votto added a two-out double to center field that made it a three-run game. In the sixth, Gomes' 16th homer of the season, a solo shot to right field, made it 4-0. After the Dodgers began the sixth with back-to-back singles to bring up the heart of the order, Bailey struck out Ethier with a rising, 95-mph fastball. Ramirez flew out to right field on 96-mph heat before Blake popped out on a 96-mph heater. Baker considered the outing the best he had seen Bailey pitch. "He had command of his fastball," Baker said. "He had good tempo, good rhythm and Corky did a heck of a job behind the plate directing him through the ballgame. Boy, that was an outstanding job by Homer." The game was far from open and shut in the ninth. Masset began the inning by giving up James Loney's home run. With one out, Baker summoned Francisco Cordero for the fourth day in a row and the fifth game in six days. Cordero gave up two singles and a walk to load the bases with two outs. Ethier struck out on a wild pitch that scored a run and brought up Ramirez one more time. But Ramirez looked at strike three to end the tense final inning. With that, the Reds' nine-game losing streak vs. Los Angeles, dating back to last season, was over. It turned out to not be a save for Cordero. Rules state if he pitched less than one inning, the potential tying run had to be either on base, at-bat or on deck when he came in. He had none of the above. "It's never easy," Baker said, not aware of the rule. "It's not the way you plan to end the game with Manny Ramirez, who hasn't been swinging that well. You think it's a matter of time, but you try to think positive."Mark Sheldon is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
