Reds call up Bailey to pitch against Indians

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By Hal McCoy, Staff Writer Updated 8:00 AM Friday, May 22, 2009

CINCINNATI — Homer Bailey is coming to town and he'll walk to the mound Saturday night in Great American Ball Park and pitch against the Cleveland Indians.

Edinson Volquez was placed on the 15-day disabled list Thursday after an MRI and will be skipped at least one turn with stiffness is his back.

Cincinnati Reds manager Dusty Baker said Volquez's MRI showed no structural damage, but the team thought caution is the right course.

"It's muscular and nothing in his vertebrae, so that's positive news," said Baker. "We decided that instead of sending him out there at 75 or 80 percent, we'll skip one start, get him well and back to 100 percent."

Bailey, 22, battled for the No. 5 spot this spring and pitched well enough to win it, but the club decided to keep Micah Owings, who gave up five runs and six hits in three innings Thursday in a 12-5 loss to Philadelphia.

"Hopefully Homer can up here and do the same thing he has been doing at Louisville — good except for a couple of outings," said Baker. "We need him and he needs it and wants it."

Bailey's numbers are not glossy at Louisville: 3-5 in eight starts, 4.57 ERA, nine homers in 45 1/3 innings, 17 walks, 43 strikeouts.

The Reds' No. 1 draft pick in 1994 and a native of La Grange, Tex., was 0-6 with a 7.93 ERA in eight starts for the Reds last year and was 4-7 with a 4.77 ERA in 19 starts at Louisville last year.

Interleague chatter

With interleague play beginning for the Reds tonight against Cleveland, Baker was asked if either league had an advantage.

"Depends on how familiar you are with the opposition. And it depends upon whose ballpark you're playing," said Baker, referring to the fact the designated hitter is used in American League parks and not used in National League parks, meaning no DH this weekend.

"That's huge," he said. "It's so huge they give that advantage to whoever wins the All-Star game."

Deuce for Bruce

Jay Bruce was 4 for 26 (.154) on the six-game trip and knew exactly what he was doing.

Before the start of the three-game home series with the Phillies, he said, "I can get one hit, but that second one is tough. Oh, yeah, absolutely, the last few games I've gotten away from my approach, which is quality at bats. If I do that, whatever happens is what is going to happen. I need to give myself the best chance and get back to that. Yeah, I'm getting myself out."

Baker sees the same things.

"Patience is the one big thing Jay has worked on. And that's what he lacks. Right now they are preying on his own lack of patience."

Patience arrived Wednesday and Thursday when Bruce banged two hits in each game.

Quote of the day

"Daddy's about to hit in the batting cage. Do you have ear plugs?" — Jerry Hairston Jr. to his 3-year-old son, Jackson.

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