NewsRoenicke more than just a flamethrower
Cincinnati (35-36) at Cleveland (30-44), 7:05 p.m. ET
By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com
06/26/09 12:34 AM ET
TORONTO -- Reds reliever Josh Roenicke let it be known he's capable of bringing more than the heat. |
With fastballs able to reach 97-98 mph on the radar gun, Roenicke has the reputation of being the hardest thrower in the Reds organization. But in his last outing, Wednesday's career-long 2 1/3 innings vs. the Blue Jays, he worked against type.
Entering for Bronson Arroyo with the bases loaded and two outs in the fourth inning, Roenicke threw four straight sliders to Alex Rios and struck him out. A large chunk of the 32 pitches he threw in the outing were also sliders and the right-hander gave up no runs. "I threw that pitch in 2007 a little, but called it a cutter but it had that slide action," Roenicke said. "Then I got away from it because I was having arm problems after an appendectomy. I thought it was because I was throwing those along with a knuckle curve. I brought it back this spring. It's been effective and really working well. [Catcher Ramon Hernandez] kept putting that three down and I kept throwing it. It helped me get out of some jams." Roenicke has made two appearances totaling 3 1/3 scoreless innings for the Reds since his June 17 recall from Triple-A Louisville. Both have been in mop-up roles while his team was way behind in the game. It's a departure from his job in Louisville, where he was the closer. "Down there, I had a lot of time to get ready because I was closing," Roenicke said. "I'd run and stretch and have plenty of time to get my body ready. Up here, I have to be ready a lot quicker. I will get used to it. Last night, it was a phone call and get up quick and get going. I hadn't done that since spring." Before his promotion to replace the injured Mike Lincoln, the 26-year-old Roenicke was 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA and 11 saves in 23 games. He didn't allow a run over his final 11 appearances and had one walk with 11 strikeouts in those 11 innings. He was on a 10-for-10 streak in saves, as well. "I thought I was throwing the ball early on but the numbers were deceiving because there were a lot of weak hits and bad luck," Roenicke said. "I stuck with it knowing it would eventually even out. The last month down there, I was really locked in and throwing a lot of strikes, which is the key. I tried to bring it up here. I had a couple of walks [Wednesday] but I'm going to stick with that same approach." Pitching matchupCIN: RHP Aaron Harang (5-7, 3.66 ERA)
Harang's early start hurt him on Sunday against the White Sox. He allowed the first three runners to reach on consecutive singles in the first inning. That led to two runs which was the difference in a 4-1 loss to the White Sox. Harang did settle down and gave up only one run over the final six innings. He finished with seven strikeouts, but didn't get any run support. In his career against the Indians, Harang is 3-1 with a 2.24 ERA in eight starts. CLE: LHP Jeremy Sowers (1-5, 5.95 ERA)
Sowers lasted just 4 1/3 innings, allowing six runs on seven hits with four walks and one strikeout in a 6-2 loss against the Cubs on Sunday. The setback extended his losing streak to three games. Facing the Reds may not solve his ailments, as he is 0-2 with an 8.55 ERA in four career starts against them. In two Interleague Play starts this season, Sowers is 0-2 with an 8.68 ERA. Encarnacion update
Edwin Encarnacion is 4-for-15 (.250) through his first five rehab games at Louisville, but has two homers and six RBIs. On Thursday vs. Charlotte, he was 1-for-2 with an RBI single and three walks. On Wednesday, he was 2-for-5 with a homer. "I heard he did pretty good. He hit a home run to right field, which is a pretty good sign," Dusty Baker said. "We need him to be a ribbie man. The .214 [average entering Thursday] doesn't bother me because he hasn't been hitting. He's turning his concentration up with runners in scoring position." Baker didn't expect Encarnacion to return when the Reds open the next home stand on Tuesday. "I don't think so. His stroke is different than Joey's. Plus Joey had a number of at-bats, and stuff. You don't want him to get here and struggle." Tickets
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• Saturday: Reds (Homer Bailey, 0-0, 12.46) at Indians (Tomo Ohka, 0-1, 4.70), 7:05 p.m. ET
• Sunday: Reds (Micah Owings, 4-8, 4.87) at Indians (David Huff, 3-2, 5.71), 1:05 p.m. ET
• Monday: Off-day
Mark Sheldon is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
