Anthony DeSclafani was happy to start a season healthy and to pitch in a game in April, even if the result, a 4-3 loss Tuesday to the Milwaukee Brewers at Great American Ball Park, wasn’t what he or the Cincinnati Reds wanted.
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DeSclafani made his season debut on June 5 last season. He didn’t pitch at all in 2017. He debuted on June 10 in 2016. He had not pitched in April since 2015.
“I’m glad I was able to take the ball the first week of the season, for sure, instead of waiting two or three months,” he said. “Glad to be here.”
DeSclafani allowed one earned run on three hits in five innings. He struck out eight and walked three.
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“I was definitely satisfied,” he said. “I was working on a lot of things in camp, hoping to progress in the season, and I feel like I did that. ... I was trying to progress with the curveball. I think I used it effectively tonight. I would still like to get it more consistent. Hopefully, it’s going to be there all year for me. It makes it a little bit easier out there to have a third weapon.”
DeSclafani threw 89 pitches and left the game when Matt Kemp pinch hit for him in the fifth. He felt he could have pitched more. Manager David Bell said it wasn’t a tough decision to take him out then and it will be a tougher decision as the season continues.
“Having him get those five really solid innings in his first start, we’re really happy with that,” Bell said.
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