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Saturday, August 06, 2005

Former Dirtbag Jason Vargas Strong In 2nd Marlins Start

Here's the AP story, published on Canada.com:

Jason Vargas mows down hard-hitting Reds in second big-league start

Canadian Press

August 6, 2005

CINCINNATI (AP) - In only his second major-league start, Jason Vargas made the hard-hitting Cincinnati Reds look like they were the rookies.

The 22-year-old left-hander shut down the National League's highest-scoring team, Miguel Cabrera and Alex Gonzalez homered, and the Florida Marlins beat the Reds 5-1 Friday night. "He knows what he's doing," Florida manager Jack McKeon said. "He's an intelligent kid.

"Of all the kids we've brought up here, he's got a great work ethic. He's not of those guys who think, 'Hey, I'm in the big leagues, so I don't have to do anything."'

Vargas (2-0), making his sixth appearance since being called up from Double-A Carolina on July 14, threw six shutout innings before tiring in the seventh against the team that went into the game leading the league in runs, RBIs, home runs and slugging percentage.

"We definitely couldn't get anything going," Reds manager Jerry Narron said. "He didn't look like a rookie pitcher.

"He changed speeds really well and located all of his pitches. He did not look like a young kid out there by any stretch."

The top five batters in Cincinnati's lineup went a combined 0-for-14 with a walk against him. Sean Casey was 0-for-3 and Ken Griffey Jr. twice fouled out to third while also going 0-for-3.

"My approach to Griffey was the same as it was to the other hitters - get ahead and make them do the things I want them to do," Vargas said. "I threw one pitch to Griffey that I thought he was going to hit over the lights, but he fouled it off."

Vargas allowed three hits and one run with one walk and two strikeouts in 6 1-3 innings. He hit back-to-back batters with one out in the seventh, prompting McKeon - the former Reds manager - to replace him with Antonio Alfonseca.

Edwin Encarnacion drove in Cincinnati's only run by greeting Alfonseca with an RBI double.

Vargas, Florida's second-round pick in the 2004 draft, earned his first win in relief on July 27 against Pittsburgh.

"I wouldn't say it's getting easier," Vargas said. "I'm just more comfortable." [more]

posted on 8/06/2005 by Jeff Agnew

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