Viola Makes Best Pitch To Return To The Majors

Frank Viola, trying to get back to the majors after elbow surgery, pitched six hitless innings Tuesday night for Cincinnati’s Triple-A affiliate in Indianapolis.

Viola, who struck out six and walked one, got the win in a 2-1 victory over New Orleans. He threw 81 pitches, 47 for strikes.

Viola, 35, used an escape clause in his minor-league contract with Toronto to leave for the Reds. The former Cy Young Award winner agreed to a contract Tuesday.

Viola had told Reds general manager Jim Bowden that he’s still got it.

“When Frank Viola tells me on the phone, ‘Jim, I can still pitch,’ that’s a critical part of it,” said Bowden.

Viola, recovering from surgery last year to replace an elbow ligament, agreed to a minor-league contact with Toronto in April. He had been on a rehabilitation assignment with the Blue Jays’ Class A team in Dunedin, Fla., going 0-1 in three starts.

The Reds have the best record in the National League and need starting pitchers. Viola pitched for Johnson with the New York Mets in 1989 and the first part of 1990, before Johnson was fired.

Bowden likes to sign veterans to minor-league contracts - a low-risk move financially - and see if they pan out. Bowden said if Viola continues to make progress, he could be in the Reds’ rotation this season.

“There’s no risk involved here,” Bowden said. “He’s been there and he knows how to win. He knows how to get hitters out.”

Viola is 175-146 career with Minnesota, New York and Boston. He won the Cy Young in 1988, when he went 24-7 with Minnesota. He was named the World Series MVP for the Twins in 1987.

He was 1-1 with a 4.65 ERA for Boston last year before tearing a ligament May 3. He had “Tommy John” surgery - a tendon was transplanted to replace the torn ligament.

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