Aaron Harang puts high expectations upon himself, so it meant something when he said, "Things went better than even I expected."
Harang, working his way back from a forearm injury, threw 50 pitches in simulated-game batting practice Wednesday to Andy Phillips, Jolbert Cabrera and Corey Patterson. The next step is a sideline session Friday and then a rehab start Monday of 70-75 pitches for Class AAA Louisville. "And if that goes well, I'd like to rejoin the team," he said.
Harang threw 25 pitches with a protective screen in front of him, then sat in the dugout for six or seven minutes, removed the screen, "because it was hindering my full motion," and threw 25 more pitches.
"I threw 25 each inning, 15 from the wind-up and 10 from the stretch each time," he said. "I'm throwing all my pitches and they all felt good coming out, but my off-speed pitches had a little rust and I have to get used to throwing the changeup again."
Manager Dusty Baker watched the session and said, "He looked pretty good, and I was surprised his location was really good. His velocity looked good, and his changeup was just good. The ball came out of his hand free and easy."
REDS 9, ASTROS 5: The Reds hit four homers, two by LF Adam Dunn and the 608th of Ken Griffey Jr.'s career, one shy of Sammy Sosa for fifth on the all-time list. RHP Edinson Volquez held the Astros to one earned run for his 6 1/3 innings to record his 13th victory and first since the All-Star break.
