MILWAUKEE – Between innings at American Family Field on Monday, Vladimir Gutierrez was always the first man to run onto the field.
There’s no time to waste when he can return to the mound. He’s worked his entire life to make it to the big leagues, so he’ll spend as much time there as he can.
The Cincinnati Reds will gladly keep sending Gutierrez out there, especially after the way he pitched in their series opener against the Milwaukee Brewers. Gutierrez, making his fourth Major League start, completed six innings in 110 pitches and the Reds needed all of them in their 10-2 victory.
Gutierrez had retired 10 consecutive batters before he issued a leadoff walk to Christian Yelich in the bottom of the sixth inning with a two-run lead. Heath Hembree was warming in the bullpen, but Reds manager David Bell opted to give Gutierrez a chance to pitch out of it.
The Reds have the worst bullpen ERA in the Majors, and they’re without Tejay Antone for the series, but Gutierrez has earned his manager’s trust.
