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Harang completely dominates Pirates

Cincinnati Reds pitcher Aaron Harang, right, is congratulated by catcher Ramon Hernandez, left, after Harang pitched a complete game shutout against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a baseball game, Sunday, April 12, 2009, in Cincinnati. The Reds won 2-0.

Associated Press photo Cincinnati Reds pitcher Aaron Harang, right, is congratulated by catcher Ramon Hernandez, left, after Harang pitched a complete game shutout against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a baseball game, Sunday, April 12, 2009, in Cincinnati. The Reds won 2-0.

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By Hal McCoy, Staff Writer Updated 7:08 PM Sunday, April 12, 2009

CINCINNATI — Even on days when Aaron Harang is unhittable, untouchable and unbelievable, his Cincinnati Reds teammates treat him as a third cousin from the bad side of the family.

On Easter Sunday, Harang threw a bunch of uncolored eggs at the Pittsburgh Pirates, a three-hitter in which he had batters nibbling at jelly beans all afternoon during a 2-0 victory, the first complete game in the majors this season.

Brandon Phillips gave him a 2-0 lead in the first with a home run, then the Reds twice left runners on second and third with one out and even hit into a triple play, forcing Harang to be at his dominant best.

He was overly dominant. He threw 108 pitches, 80 for strikes. He went to three balls on only one batter and two balls on only seven.

“That’s the Aaron Harang I remember from 2006 and 2007,” said Phillips, who homered with two outs in the first on a 2-2 pitch after Willy Taveras led the inning with a double.

Harang gave up a double to Nyjer Morgan opening the game. He hit Morgan with two outs in the third, Brandon Moss singled with two outs in the fifth and Morgan singled with one out in the ninth.

Not one Pirate put a foot on third base.

Closer Francisco Cordero was warming up in the ninth when Morgan singled with one out, causing manager Dusty Baker to think about replacing Harang.

“He would have had to drag me off the mound,” said Harang, who needed 114 pitches to get to five innings on Opening Day.

“That’s a tough position for a manager — what if you take him out and something happens and what if you leave him in and something happens? He had good tempo and good rhythm, so you look at his pitch count and see how he’s throwing,” said Baker.

Decision? Easy. Leave him in.

“You try to handle a decision like that, but you don’t handle it very well,” said Baker. “But he was dealing and you could tell he really wanted that one.”

And since it was Harang, Baker worried about his team cluttering the bases with stranded runners and said, “I was hoping the whole game that those baserunners we left with less than two outs wouldn’t haunt us. But Aaron was masterful.”

And, as usual, not that impressed with himself.

“I threw some good games a couple of years ago, including a complete game at Pittsburgh to end the season,” he said. “It was nice to get a complete game early in the season because they don’t happen very often any more. I wanted to give the bullpen a day off and give us good energy heading for the road.”

That’s Harang, thinking of the other guys, who give it their best but seldom give him much help.

“They knew I was throwing strikes and had to swing,” he said.

Today’s game

Who: Reds at Brewers

When: 8:05 p.m.

TV: FSN Ohio

Radio: WONE-AM (980)

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I was very happy to see Harang pitch so well yesterday. I hope to see more complete games from the pitching squad this year.

I also am very pleased with Dickerson and Votto. We have a very scrappy ball club with a lot of potential. No big names with added pressure. I hope to see continued improvement with the Reds over this long stretch road trip!

Reds Fan
8:45 AM, 4/13/2009

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Saw the game in person today. Great changing of speeds by Harang today--mostly in the 80's, with "slow, slower and slowest" to many hitters.

Nice job, once again by Dickerson--telling his manager that he has good knowledge of the strike zone--walking twice, flying out, and hustling a single into a double.PLAY HIM EVERYDAY BAKERMAN!

Wizard
10:15 PM, 4/12/2009

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I hope this is the Aaron Harang we will see more of this year. He is a work horse, and when he is on like this, look out.

Michael
9:49 PM, 4/12/2009

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