Second appearance
Williamson goes 4 2/3 in relief for Reds
Brandon Williamson made his second pitching appearance of the season for the Cincinnati Reds as he took the mound at Citi Field in New York vs. the Mets.
The Martin County West graduate pitched in relief for the first time as a major leaguer and the second time in his professional career.
Williamson relieved opener Fernando Cruz in the second inning and went 4 2/3 innings in relief of opener Fernando Cruz. The Mets won 6-4 in 10 innings on a home run by Mark Vientos, his second of the game.
The left hander would have gone a full five innings, and the Reds might have won in nine had right-fielder Jake Fraley's apparent running catch of a Pete Alonso drive with two out in the sixth stayed in his glove when he hit the ground a step and a half later.
"I thought he gave a great effort. That's baseball," Williamson said to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer. "It was hit in a tough spot. Tough catch."
Five days after season debut as a starter vs. Milwaukee Sunday, he threw 60 pitches (34 for strikes) Friday and allowed one run on one hit, walking, hitting two and striking out one.
"Felt good. I was able to command the cutter, threw some good changeups," Williamson said. "I had thoughts about last year here; I didn't feel like I pitched well (in first four innings of a loss, allowing three runs), so this game was really kind of like a bounce-back here. I felt good last year here, but I just didn't perform. I wanted to pitch well.
"I'm definitely not (built up) to a full starter yet," he said. "Hopefully, here pretty soon I'll be close to full-go. "I'm just trying to get as many outs as I can, however many pitches they allow."
He currently lines up to make his next appearance against the Cardinals in St. Louis, where the Reds play Tuesday-Thursday. It’s unknown whether he will start or serve as a bulk reliever.
Cincinnati then plays a three-game series at Target Field in Minneapolis vs. the Twins Friday-Sunday.