AP News, August 26th, 2007
Catcher Ryan Jorgensen's first grand slam helped 29-year-old Tom Shearn win his long-awaited major league debut Sunday, and the Cincinnati Reds beat the Florida Marlins 9-3 for their sixth straight victory.
The rookie pitcher and his minor-league catcher kept the Reds on their best surge of the season. Since interim manager Pete Mackanin took over on July 3, Cincinnati has the NL's best record at 29-19.
The foundering Marlins hadn't been swept three games in Cincinnati since 2001. They've lost 11 of 12, falling a season-high 17 games under .500 at 57-74.
A newcomer kept the Reds on the upswing.
Shearn (1-0) was called up from Triple-A Louisville before the game and limited the Marlins to four hits and a pair of walks in seven innings, including Dan Uggla's three-run homer.
Jorgensen, his catcher at Louisville before an Aug. 14 promotion, hit his first career grand slam in the first inning off rookie right-hander Daniel Barone (0-2) to help Shearn settle in. Brandon Phillips and Edwin Encarnacion also homered off Barone.
The Reds' offense has been the foundation of the winning streak, scoring 46 runs during the six-game span.
In a matchup of two pitchers called up this month, age won out.
The 24-year-old Barone made his debut on Aug. 10. His fourth start was by far the worst of the bunch _ three innings, nine runs, three home runs. Barone's tough afternoon helped his rookie counterpart get the win.
Two days shy of his 30th birthday, Shearn finally made it to the majors. The right-hander grew up in Columbus, Ohio, and bounced around the minors for 11 seasons and 352 appearances before getting his chance.
The stocky, 6-foot-4 pitcher wore No. 64 _ a number usually seen in spring training _ and started the game with a called strike to Hanley Ramirez.
He's the oldest Reds pitcher to make his big-league debut since 1956, when Pat Scantlebury did it at age 38. Shearn also was the fifth member of Louisville's starting rotation to make the jump to Cincinnati this season.
The second time through the Marlins' order, Shearn got in trouble. Uggla hit a three-run homer in the third inning, his second homer in his last four at-bats. With Jorgensen calling the pitches, Shearn settled down and held on.
The 28-year-old Jorgensen appeared in four games for the Marlins in 2005, his only major league experience before the Reds called him up to fill in for the injured David Ross. Ross, who is recovering from a concussion, is expected to return in a few days.
Notes:@ Barone singled in the third inning for his first major league hit. ... OF Jeremy Hermida extended his hitting streak to a career-high 10 games. ... The Reds optioned RHP Kirk Saarloos to Louisville to open a roster spot for Shearn. The reliever had been called up Tuesday for his third stint with the Reds, and gave up a three-run homer on Saturday night. ... Shearn was the oldest Reds player to make his major league debut since outfielder Greg Tubbs did it in 1993 at age 30. ... The grand slam was Jorgensen's second career homer. ... SS Jeff Keppinger's hitting streak ended at 14 games.
