Remlinger Is Sharp as Starter for Reds

Jack McKeon is an interim manager, but he figures he has to be concerned with the Cincinnati Reds of 1998.

That’s why Mike Remlinger, heretofore a relief pitcher in the major leagues, is starting.

“He’s in the rotation unless something unforeseen happens and I have to put him in the bullpen to give us a left-handed look,” McKeon said Tuesday after Remlinger had given up three runs over five innings and struck out nine in pitching the Reds to a 7-3 victory over San Diego.

“I want to start developing a rotation for the future.”

The one of the past was pretty much shot when John Smiley was traded to Cleveland and Pete Schourek was sidelined because of a sore elbow.

Enter Remlinger (4-4) as a stop-gap measure, and he has won both of his starts since.

“I like having the opportunity now so I can go into spring training knowing what I’m going to be doing,” said Remlinger, who was a starter earlier in his career. “I like to focus on one particular job, whether it be starting or relieving. Starting’s fine with me right now.”

It’s somewhat easier, though, starting against the Padres, who have lost six of their last seven and fallen 9 1/2 games behind San Francisco in the NL West after closing within 5 1/2 as late as July 17.

On Tuesday, homers by Eduardo Perez and Reggie Sanders off struggling Sterling Hitchcock did them in.

“We’re not swinging the bats right now. When that happens, hopefully your pitching comes through,” Manager Bruce Bochy said. “That’s cold on us now too.”

So is Hitchcock (7-7), who was hit hard for the second consecutive start and made a costly baserunning gaffe--getting picked off first to end a bases-loaded threat in the second inning--that helped Cincinnati get only its fifth victory in 17 games.

Perez hit a two-run homer in the first and Sanders added a three-run shot off Hitchcock in the third for a 6-1 lead. Sanders has homered in four of his last five games.

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