Johnny Cueto pitched a gem on Thursday, helping the Reds win three of four games against the Pittsburgh Pirates this week. In his fifth straight win, Cueto pitched six innings of three-hit baseball, while striking out a season high nine batters. As he did the last time he faced Charlie Morton and the Bucs, Cueto shut them out. After Scott Rolen and Jay Bruce hit back-to-back home runs in the first inning, the Reds never looked back, defeating the Pirates 8-2.
On Friday, against the Houston Astros, Sam LeCure will make his major league debut. LeCure will be filling in for Homer Bailey who is currently on the 15-day disabled list. This year at AAA Louisville, LeCure has gone 5-2 while posting a 2.55 ERA. LeCure has more wins, and a lower earned run average, than any other Bats' starting pitcher this season.
During LeCure's last start for Louisville on May 22, he took a no-hitter into the eighth inning. Allowing only one hit and striking out five, LeCure pitched a complete-game shutout that night with 99 pitches. The last Louisville Bat to throw a complete-game one-hitter was Lee Tunnell who did it on June 21, 1988. After two marvelous shut-out starts during May 17-23, LeCure was named the International League's Pitcher of the Week. Bring it on.
Aroldis Chapman (5-2, 3.55) pitched on Thursday after missing his last start due to a blister on his finger. Chapman pitched five scoreless innings and allowed only three hits while striking out seven.
Sam LeCure (0-0, 0.00) will face Wandy Rodriguez (2-6, 4.33) and the Astros at 7:10pm on Friday. The Reds are currently in first place, one game ahead the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Central. The Cardinals will play three games against the Chicago Cubs this weekend.
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