For a guy who had not thrown in two months, right-hander Nick Masset felt pretty good Thursday. The right-hander made 30 throws from 60 feet on flat ground before the Reds' 6-3 win over Atlanta.
Masset has been on the disabled list all year with a slight tear in his throwing shoulder.
"It's a situation like you're starting to throw again after the offseason -- three months off, whatever. You've got to get the rust out," Masset said. "Overall, I felt good. I thought the ball was coming out OK.
"There was a little something (as far as pain). I knew that there was going to be a little something going into it today, but I think it went well for the first day."
Reds manager Dusty Baker watched the session.
"He looked pretty good for his first time throwing the ball," Baker said. "He felt a little something, which is natural. ... He got a little better as he went on."
Masset last tried to throw in late April, when he had to shut it down after five pitches.
"I'm about as encouraged as I could be throwing the first day," Masset said. "We're still a long ways away. I try to stay positive, work as hard as I can in the training room, hope all that training and strengthening turns into good results."
NOTES, QUOTES
Mesoraco's slam helps Reds complete sweep
--C Devin Mesoraco's first career grand slam was the key blow Thursday in the Reds' 6-3 win over the Braves, which completed a four-game sweep. It came the night after fellow rookie Todd Frazier hit his first career walk-off home run. "I've been giving out a lot of lineup cards for guys' firsts lately," manager Dusty Baker said. "That's OK. It's been a lot of the young guys, which is great. It builds confidence. They feel they belong here."
--RHP Homer Bailey (3-3) went six innings and allowed two runs on four hits. He walked one and struck out six. It was his fourth consecutive quality start and seventh in eight outings. "I didn't feel that good," Bailey said. "We had to make do."
--RHP Logan Ondrusek earned the save Thursday with new closer Aroldis Chapman unavailable. Ondrusek gave up two hits in the ninth, but he got former Reds INF Juan Francisco to hit into a double play to end it.
--RF Jay Bruce is in a 1-for-31 slump, and manager Dusty Baker is considering giving him a day off. However, Baker may let Bruce swing his way out of it. "That's usually what he does," Baker said. "If he was a player I didn't know ... Most of the time when you're going badly, you're fouling off pitches you should hit and you're pulling everything."
--SS Zack Cozart went 2-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to five games. He's 9-for-18 during the streak with two home runs.
BY THE NUMBERS: 10 -- Home runs the Reds hit in their four-game sweep of the Braves -- none by RF Jay Bruce or 1B Joey Votto.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I think what's coming along for him is he's throwing everything for strikes -- his slider, his curveball. His split is a good chase pitch. He's always had the fastball. He can put it where he wants. ... It's fun to watch Homer progress and get better as the year's going. The thing for me is there's still some room where he can get better." -- C Devin Mesoraco, on RHP Homer Bailey.
ROSTER REPORT
MEDICAL WATCH:
--RHP Nick Masset (right shoulder inflammation) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 26. He threw on flat ground May 24 for the first time. There is no timetable for his return.
--LHP Bill Bray (strained left groin) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 19. He began a rehab assignment with Class AAA Louisville on April 29, but he moved back to extended spring training in Goodyear, Ariz., after one outing. He was still pitching in extended spring training as of mid-May, and there was no timetable for his return.
--3B Scott Rolen (strained left shoulder) went on the 15-day disabled list May 12. He had yet to resume swinging a bat as of May 21.
--RHP Ryan Madson (Tommy John surgery in April 2012) went on the 60-day disabled list April 4. He is out for the season.
ROTATION:
RHP Johnny Cueto
RHP Mat Latos
RHP Brandon Arroyo
RHP Mike Leake
RHP Homer Bailey
BULLPEN:
LHP Aroldis Chapman (closer)
LHP Sean Marshall
RHP J.J. Hoover
RHP Logan Ondrusek
RHP Jose Arredondo
RHP Sam LeCure
RHP Alfredo Simon
CATCHERS:
Devin Mesoraco
Ryan Hanigan
INFIELDERS:
1B Joey Votto
2B Brandon Phillips
SS Zack Cozart
3B Todd Frazier
INF Miguel Cairo
INF Wilson Valdez
INF Mike Costanzo
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Ryan Ludwick
CF Drew Stubbs
RF Jay Bruce
OF Chris Heisey
