Reds call up Villareal, send down Partch

Published Aug. 3, 2013 4:00 p.m. ET

foxsports

Curtis Partch was touched for five earned runs by the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night, and Saturday the Cincinnati Reds sent the right-handed reliever to Triple-A Louisville.
Pedro Villarreal was chosen to replace Partch in the Reds bullpen.

Partch heads back to Triple-A after fashioning a 5.89 ERA in 18 innings. The 26-year-old righty was 0-1, striking out 15 batters and walking 14. He allowed at least one run in five of his 11 appearances, including a nightmarish Aug. 2 appearance that saw him come on with the Reds trailing 5-0 and two on and two out in the top of the fourth inning. He walked the first three batters he faced then gave up a two-RBI double to Jon Jay that made it 9-0. In the top of the fifth, he allowed a two-run homer to Allen Craig and a solo shot to Daniel Descalso.
His first stint in the major leagues ended much the way it began – with a bludgeoning at the hands of the Cardinals. Partch made his major league debut June 9 at home against St. Louis and gave up a grand slam to Matt Holiday.
Villarreal joins the Reds for the second time this season. He was an emergency starter June 5 against Colorado when he gave up six runs on 10 hits in 3 2/3 innings of a 12-4 Reds loss.
In 25 appearances (including 15 starts) for the Bats, Villarreal is 2-7 with a 5.08 ERA. He has struck out 61 and walked 24 in 90 1/3 innings.