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Reds' top draft pick gets an early start

CINCINNATI - It took a little more than a month for Ryan Wagner to make the jump from college to the big leagues.

The hard-throwing right-hander, the Reds' No.1 pick out of Houston in last month's draft, retired all five batters he faced in his major-league debut - a 9-8 loss to the Astros.

"He was pretty special - real special," Reds manager Bob Boone said. "He threw strikes, which we knew he did, and he had pretty special stuff."

Wagner threw 16 pitches, 13 strikes, and pinch-hitter Brian Hunter was his first strikeout victim in the seventh. He was so effective that many in the sellout crowd of 41,772, booed when he was replaced in the eighth.

Wagner, the 14th pick, threw nine innings in the minors before the Reds purchased his contract from Triple-A Louisville. He is the first player from this year's draft to reach the majors.

"They told me I might get up there quickly, but after just nine innings in the minors, you're not expecting that," Wagner said before the game against the Astros - the team he followed while growing up in Texas.

"It's just an indescribable feeling," Wagner said. "I just turned 21 Tuesday, and it's all been a whirlwind."

MARLINS: Reliever Tim Spooneybarger, sidelined with a sprained elbow ligament, is upset about comments by manager Jack McKeon regarding the injury.

McKeon has made it clear he is frustrated by the absence of Spooneybarger, who has been on the disabled list since June 17. McKeon said this month that an MRI exam showed no damage in the right-hander's elbow.

Dr. James Andrews identified the injury as a sprain and said Spooneybarger could face reconstructive surgery unless the elbow improves.

"Do I listen to (Andrews) or do I listen to (McKeon), who probably has two months left in his career?" Spooneybarger said. "He really doesn't know what he's talking about."

Spooneybarger and McKeon met later Friday to patch up things.

"We talked," McKeon said Saturday. "I have no problem with the guy."

LEYRITZ WANTS CHANCE: Jim Leyritz wants one more moment of October glory. The 39-year-old slugger, out of the majors for three years, was at Yankee Stadium for Old-Timers Day. But he's attempting a comeback and hopes to return to the big leagues before the season is over.

"My shoulder's finally healthy. Now it's a matter of finding an opportunity again," Leyritz said.

Leyritz's last stint in the majors was in 2000, when he hit .209 with two homers and 12 RBIs in 115 at-bats with the Yankees and Dodgers.

BRAVES: Outfielder Chipper Jones missed the game against the Mets with a sore left wrist.