A reliever turned temporary starting pitcher for the Reds, Alfredo Simon is the caretaker of the fifth spot in the rotation until Mat Latos can return in a couple of weeks.
Simon, who hadn’t started in the regular season since 2011 with the Orioles, did more than just eat innings or pitch well enough on Sunday. His fantastic seven-inning performance quieted the Mets. A starter-turned-reliever, Manny Parra was charged with closing it out as the team currently lacks a designated closer.
The two pitchers combined to give the Reds a much-needed 2-1 win over the Mets at Citi Field to salvage one game of the three-game series.
“You couldn’t ask any more than we got from Simon and Manny Parra right there,” Reds manager Bryan Price said.
The start was Simon’s longest outing since a career-high, eight-inning start for Baltimore against the Tigers on Sept. 23, 2011. He allowed one earned run and four hits with one walk, one hit batsman and six strikeouts while throwing 79 pitches, with 56 strikes.
Simon hadn’t pitched in a game since March 24 during Spring Training.
“I felt real comfortable,” Simon said “I know it had been 10 days since I was out there. I just tried to do my best today. Everything came through.”
Simon has been an effective middle reliever, a situational reliever or set-up man for the Reds the past two seasons. He was stretched out to start, however, after Latos’ left knee injury at the beginning of Spring Training.
“It was a good opportunity for me,” Simon said. “I tried to go show them the best I can and tried to win the game. Everything worked really good today.”
The Mets took a 1-0 lead on Simon in the bottom of the second. Once again, a left-handed shift backfired on the Reds when Ike Davis punched a double to the left side. Davis scored on Juan Lagares’ single to left field.
After Simon walked pitcher Jonathon Niese and gave up an Eric Young Jr. double with one out in the third, he settled into a nice groove and retired 11 of the next 12 and final 14 of 16.
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