DAYTON | Just four games into the Class A Midwest League season, it looks like the Dayton Dragons are off to a bad start.
They are if you're only measuring wins and losses, because they stand 1-3.
However, there is a lot to like about this team, and some of it is even pitching, a problem in the recent past in the Reds' chain.
Take Sunday's game, for instance, where Zach Ward made his professional debut, allowing no runs over six innings despite throwing very few first-pitch strikes.
Ward was taken by the Reds in the third round of last year's draft and sent to rookie Billings, Mont., but his arm was a little sore from playing college ball at Gardner-Webb and he was shut down without making it into a game.
That made Sunday a special outing.
"Before the first batter, my blood pressure probably was off the roof," Ward said. "I think I was being a little fine with my pitches."
Ward walked the first batter, but the first of two Dragons' double plays erased him, and it was game on.
"I was happy with Ward," Manager Billy Gardner Jr. said. "It didn't get too far into the count and when he throws that many ground ball outs (10), he's on."
So far, Ward and previous starters Travis Wood, Carlos Fisher and Philippe Valiquette have looked good. Johnny Cueto, as the fifth starter, goes tonight against Lansing, and the Reds think he has a strong arm.
As for the relief pitchers, there have been some extenuating circumstances, but they'll have to be more consistent.
• New Reds director of development Johnny Almarazwas in town for the first time since spring training and pledges help if needed. He doesn't want to see the Dragons finish last again. Over the last three seasons, the team was last five of six times in the 70-game half-season format.
• Gardner thought he had the eighth inning set up for a run when pinch-hitter Bobby Mosby singled and was sacrificed to second on a bunt by Mike DeJesus. A ground out and foul pop ended the threat.
• In their first four games last year, the Dragons were also 1-3 with 10 doubles, no triples and two homers. They struck out 33 times and walked 12 times.
This year, they have collected nine doubles, three triples (all by second baseman Mike Griffin) and two homers. They have struck out 43 times and walked six. That may say more about the South Bend pitching staff than about the Dayton batters.