NewsWells making most of chance with Reds
Cincinnati (61-73) at Atlanta (70-65), 7:00 p.m. ET
By Guy Curtright / Special to MLB.com
09/04/09 11:30 PM ET
ATLANTA -- Making the Majors wasn't hard for Kip Wells. He did it with the Chicago White Sox the season after being a first-round Draft choice in 1998. Sticking around has been the problem in recent years for the now 32-year-old former Baylor University standout. Out of a job at the start of Spring Training and again in early July, Wells is getting what he knows could be his last real opportunity to be a regular MLB starting pitcher. He is determined to make the most of it. "From where I was six or eight weeks ago, you can't ask for more than this," said Wells, who will make his third start for the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday night against the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field. Wells, brought up from Triple-A Louisville at the end of July, received his opportunity to join the Reds' rotation when Aaron Harang was lost for the season after an emergency appendectomy. So far, the results have been encouraging, if not overwhelming. Cincinnati has won both of his starts, although Wells didn't get a decision in either. He worked six innings against Pittsburgh on Monday, giving up two hits and two runs. The only negative was his iffy control, with four walks to two strikeouts. Before the two starts, Wells' previous 66 appearances in the Majors had been out of the bullpen. But the right-hander is definitely stretched out after making 108 pitches in his start against the Pirates and 96 in a five-inning outing against Milwaukee on Aug. 26. "Be careful what you wish for," Wells said. "I went from doing very little to throwing more than 200 pitches in 10 days." You won't hear Wells complain about the workload, though."I'm sure not going to say that my arm is tired," he said.
It hasn't been an easy road for Wells in recent years. He had circulation problems in his right arm in 2006 with Pittsburgh and had a blood clot in '08 with Colorado. The Reds are his seventh big league team, and he has spent plenty of time in the Minors the past two seasons. Wells pitched 23 times in relief with the Nationals early this season, picking up two saves. But he posted a 6.49 ERA, and Washington released him in early July. He was quickly signed by Cincinnati and pitched well at Louisville before being promoted, making one start and pitching four times in relief. "I've had so many different roles this season, but this is where I'd hoped to be," said Wells, who has a 65-97 career record. "This is a good opportunity, and I want to make the best out of it that I can." Pitching matchupCIN: RHP Kip Wells (0-3, 5.48 ERA)
Wells had command issues in his previous start, but he got it together in time to retire his final eight batters before exiting with 108 pitches, helping save the Reds' bullpen a little. He pitched a scoreless inning in relief against Atlanta in April while with Washington. Wells is 1-3 with a 3.47 ERA in his career against the Braves. ATL: RHP Jair Jurrjens (10-9, 2.89 ERA)
Jurrjens has been saddled by bad luck throughout this season. On 13 different occasions, he has allowed two earned runs or fewer and been denied victory. Adding to his string of misfortune, the 23-year-old right-hander limited the Reds to one run in two innings on June 16 and was handed a loss when rain prevented him from continuing his start. Jurrjens is 1-1 with a 2.28 ERA in his past four starts. Tidbits
Outfielder Jay Bruce (broken wrist) and catcher Ryan Hanigan (concussion) played their second rehab games with Triple-A Louisville at Indianapolis on Friday night. Bruce was 0-for-3 on Thursday and Hanigan was 1-for-3. ... The Reds and Braves split six games this season in Cincinnati, with the Braves winning twice in an April series and the Reds taking two games in June. ... Atlanta manager Bobby Cox was ejected in the fourth inning Friday night after arguing an interference call. He has been ejected a record 150 times. Tickets
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• Sunday: Reds (Johnny Cueto, 9-10, 4.51) at Braves (Tim Hudson, 1-0, 3.38), 1:30 p.m. ET
• Monday: Reds (Justin Lehr, 4-1, 4.43) at Rockies (Ubaldo Jimenez, 13-10, 3.28), 3:10 p.m. ET
• Tuesday: Reds (Homer Bailey, 5-4, 5.90) at Rockies (Jason Marquis, 14-10, 3.75), 8:40 p.m. ET
Guy Curtright is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
