Reds 5, A's 2 postscript

One of things I like about Homer Bailey is he's a bit of smart ass with the writers.

Someone asked him if he's getting used to the big leagues after three starts.

"Yeah, I guess so," he said. "Bases are still white. We still uses wooden bats up here just like we did down there. Jerseys and cleats. Yeah, there's a lot more fans and bigger stadiums. That actually doesn't play a part when you're there playing."

We'll we try to attach significance to every start, he's an "I just pitch" sort of guy.

And he looks like he can pitch. He allowed only two hits. His fastball is good enough that when he's locating it, he can get by throwing it on nearly every pitch. The RBI double was on a change-up, by the way. He was still throwing 96 consistently in the sixth.

Jeff Brantley was very impressed with Tuesday's outing.

"That's pitching, boys," he said. "That's competing."

Bailey wanted to go out for the eighth.

“I wasn't really tired or anything,” Bailey said. “A starting pitcher never wants to come out of a game. I would have liked to (pitch the eighth). But the bullpen came in and did their job. It doesn't matter.”

The A's patience didn't pay because Bailey was getting ahead so quickly.

“I knew they were going to be patient,” he said. “I kept to my game plan and tried to get Strike 1. Once you get one or two strikes on them, they've got to swing the bat.”

He's 2-0 with a 4.00 ERA against three teams with winning percentages of that are combined 46 games over .500. Not a bad start to a career.