The Associated Press

The pitcher who’s missed two years because of elbow surgery has saved the Cincinnati Reds in the month of May.

Wednesday, May 31, 2000

The pitcher who’s missed two years because of elbow surgery has saved the Cincinnati Reds in the month of May. Called on to fill in while No. 1 starter Pete Harnisch is disabled, Fernandez has led the Reds to wins in all four of his starts.

He’s also gotten better as he goes along. He retired the last 19 batters he faced Tuesday night in a 4-2 victory over the Montreal Expos, his best performance yet.

It might have been best ever. Fernandez (2-0) allowed only two hits in seven innings and didn’t walk a batter. Only four of the 23 batters he faced got the ball out of the infield – five struck out and 14 grounded out.

”That guy pitched well,” Expos manager Felipe Alou said. ”He’s really recovered from that arm problem he had. He’s like a new pitcher. He’s better now than when he first came over from Cuba. Whatever the doctor fixed, you’ve got to keep an eye on.”

Fernandez, 31, led Cuba to the gold medal at the 1992 Olympics and defected three years later. He went 10-17 in two seasons for San Francisco before his elbow problems led to two operations and kept him out of the majors for two years.

He failed to make the Reds in spring training because he repeatedly worked deep in the count and had a 5.00 ERA. When Harnisch went on the disabled list with a weak shoulder, Fernandez got his chance.

He’s pitched better than anyone anticipated.

”He had a good sinking fastball and a pretty good slider and a good curve,” manager Jack McKeon said. ”He’s had darn good control and that’s been a big plus.

”In the past, he was the kind of guy who liked to throw a lot of pitches and nibble and walk a lot of guys. But he’s been pretty consistent throwing strikes.”

Fifty of his 82 pitches Tuesday were strikes. After Vladimir Guerrero’s two-out RBI single in the first, Fernandez didn’t allow another baserunner.

Fernandez agreed he’s doing well because he’s throwing strikes and feeling good.

”Actually, I feel better than before I got hurt,” Fernandez said through teammate Alex Ochoa, acting as translator. ”My arm feels good. I can throw from different angles.”

Lately, the Expos haven’t been able to hit any pitchers out once they get past the first inning. That’s the main reason they’ve lost their last six games, their worst slide since a seven-game streak last May.

Montreal has scored nine runs in the first innings of its last seven games, only four runs in the other innings.

”We have a good team,” said Tony Armas (0-3). ”People probably don’t think so because we’re not hitting. We’re going to come around. You look at our lineup – from one to eight, it’s a pretty tough lineup. It will come.”

Armas is used to getting little offensive support. The Expos have scored only seven runs in his four starts.

He matched Fernandez for six innings, with both teams limited to two hits. A throwing error by second baseman Jose Vidro let in the go-ahead run in the seventh and Aaron Boone followed with a run-scoring single for a 3-1 lead.

The Expos had a chance in the ninth with the toughest part of their order up.

Scott Williamson relieved and pitched a perfect eighth, stretching the streak to 22 Expos retired in order. Montreal then loaded the bases with none out in the ninth on a single, an error and a walk.

Williamson’s wild pitch with Rondell White at bat let in a run, but White and Guerrero both struck out on high fastballs. Guerrero waved at a shoulder-high pitch for strike three.

”They were bad pitches. High pitches,” Alou said. ”I don’t think he wanted to throw them there. He was wild, completely wild.”

Lee Stevens fouled out to end it, leaving Williamson with his sixth save in seven chances.

Notes: An MRI found that Expos starter has torn knee cartilage. He’ll likely have arthroscopic surgery Wednesday while reliever Mike Johnson starts in his place. … Johnson has made nine relief appearances this season, but started 14 games for the Expos over the last three years. … SS Orlando Cabrera was back in Montreal’s starting lineup Tuesday. He missed a weekend series in San Diego due to the death of his father, Jolbert. … Harnisch resumed playing catch Tuesday. If all goes well, he could begin throwing off a mound again in 10-14 days. … Backup shortstop Juan Castro agreed to a two-year extension for $400,000 per year. … Ken Griffey Jr. went 0-for-3 with a walk, leaving him in a 4-for-36 slump.