Former Terp Jimmy Reed looks to improve with Memphis
By Chris Bengel
Former Maryland pitcher Jimmy Reed was promoted to the St. Louis Cardinals’ AAA affiliate, Memphis on July 2. He’ll make his second start on Wednesday night. (Mandatory Credit: The Sporting News)
After a rocky first start with the Memphis Redbirds, Jimmy Reed is looking to right the ship.
Reed will start his second AAA game on Wednesday evening.
The former Maryland starting pitcher was promoted from the Springfield Cardinals (AA) to the Redbirds on July 2, and was quickly thrown into the fire. Reed tossed 4.1 innings, yielding three runs on seven hits while striking out three batters against the Oklahoma City Dodgers the very next day.
In his first outing with Memphis, Reed had a pair of one-two-three innings to start off the game. In the third inning, he did surrender back-to-back two-out singles, but did get former Chicago Cubs second baseman Darwin Barney to pop out into foul territory to end the threat.
In the fourth inning, Reed allowed a leadoff double, but was able to wiggle out of the inning with a pair of ground-outs and a strikeout.
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However, the fifth inning was where the former Maryland star got into trouble. Reed allowed a leadoff double, which was followed by a single to put runners at second and third base. The next batter would pop up a bunt to Reed for the first out. However, the very next batter (left fielder Darnell Sweeney) hit a three-run home run to center field. Reed wouldn’t record another out on the evening.
On Wednesday night, Reed will take the mound against the Nashville Sounds, and will be opposed to veteran left-hander Barry Zito. That’s the very same Zito that pitched for the Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants in the past.
It will be the first of a five-game series between the Redbirds and the Sounds.
Memphis is the third team that Reed has been on in the Cardinals system in just this season alone. The former Terp went 4-2 with a 2.15 ERA in eight starts for the Palm Beach Cardinals (Adv. A). Reed only allowed 13 earned runs while striking out 34 during those starts.
He was promoted to Springfield in early June and went 2-1 with a 2.22 ERA in five starts. Reed only yielded seven earned runs and striking out 20 batters during that time.
During his time between Palm Beach and Springfield, Reed only walked 13 hitters, which speaks volumes for his command on the mound.