CINCINNATI – After dealing with the devastating news of a second Tommy John surgery for ace Hunter Greene, the Reds needed a boost of good news regarding the health of a key player.
They got that boost Friday when closer Emilio Pagán went for a scan on the sore index and middle fingers on his right hand. The scan revealed no structural damage on the two fingers, much to the relief of Pagán, who wanted to pitch in the series finale against the White Sox but didn’t because manager Terry Francona chose to be safe rather than sorry.
“I just thought it was the right thing to do,” Francona explained before the opener with the Marlins. “He wanted to pitch. He told us that outside. I know he did, and I told him before the game he wasn't, because I just don't think that's fair, and I'm glad we didn't.
“Good news, real good. No inflammation. He's got some discomfort. He can work through that, as long as he knows he's okay.”
The White Sox scored two runs in the eighth and one in the ninth to make it a 9-8 game, but Francona decided against going to Pagán. Julian Garcia allowed the ninth-inning run, but finished the inning for his second career save.
“It’s going to be uncomfortable,” Pagán conceded Friday. “It's really only when I throw my split, when I split my index and middle finger. On the other two pitches I don't really feel it, and so given that the scan was clean, it gives me a little more freedom of mind when I'm throwing it. Not really worried about it.”
Pagán has posted a 4.10 ERA and 14 saves in 17 chances over 28 appearances. It’s been a challenging season for the 35-year-old, who missed nearly two months after suffering a hamstring injury in early May at Wrigley Field. Pagán’s only appearance since Aug. 6 came on Tuesday, when he pitched a perfect 10th inning and got the save in Cincinnati’s 5-4 win in Chicago against the White Sox.
“When I wasn't pitching in games, recreating game intensity is tough, and so on the IL when I'm throwing my pitches and trying to get my arm back up to speed for when I was activated, just throwing the splitter [in a side session] and throwing the splitter in the ninth inning in a one-run game, way different.”
“And so, I think just my hand, having not done it consistently for a long period of time, it's just you know normal things where your muscles are fatiguing in different ways than they would just playing catch play, and so I know I didn't throw a lot on this road trip, but I threw a lot on the homestand before, and I think my hand was just telling me like it's pretty pretty beat up. And so again, clear scan, so free of mind to go out there and throw as many splitters as I need to tonight.”