AT LAST, DODGERS WILL START A LEFTY.Byline: Eric Noland Daily News Staff Writer A major-league record will fall Sunday when the Dodgers send left-hander Dennis Reyes out to start a game against the San Francisco Giants The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California that currently play in the National League West Division. New York Giants history Early days and the John McGraw era , but only a bizarre twist of fortune made this event possible. Reyes, whom the Dodgers announced Friday night would be promoted from Triple-A Albuquerque for the assignment, is a natural right-hander, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. longtime scout Mike Brito. By throwing left-handed when he faces the Giants Sunday, Reyes will break the Dodgers' major-league record for consecutive starts by right-handed pitchers Noun 1. right-handed pitcher - (baseball) a pitcher who throws with the right hand right-hander baseball, baseball game - a ball game played with a bat and ball between two teams of nine players; teams take turns at bat trying to score runs; "he played ; it will stand at 681 after tonight's game. The last lefty to start for the Dodgers was Bobby Ojeda, on Sept. 24, 1992. What an odd candidate for such a historic moment. Brito says Reyes was a 6-year-old bat boy for a team he managed in Guaymas, Mexico, in 1983. Reyes approached him and said, ``Are you going to sign me someday?'' Brito, famous throughout Mexico for discovering Fernando Valenzuela Several years later, Brito said, ``I was scouting this left-handed teen-ager, and the kid came up to me after the game and said, `You don't remember me, do you?' '' Reyes had switched arms. From his apartment in Albuquerque Friday, Reyes said his exchange with Brito was only minimally responsible for his conversion, however. ``I had a problem with my right shoulder. The clavicle clavicle /clav·i·cle/ (klav´i-k'l) collar bone; a bone, curved like the letter f, that articulates with the sternum and scapula, forming the anterior portion of the shoulder girdle on either side. was too much up,'' he said. ``The next year, when I was 7, my daddy had me start throwing with my left arm.'' Reyes paused and sighed at the memory. ``It was tough.'' Reyes, whom Brito says even walks like Valenzuela, obviously adjusted quickly. After joining the Dodgers in '93 - yes, Brito signed him - Reyes made a rapid ascent through the system. He was at Single-A San Bernardino San Bernardino, city, United States San Bernardino (săn bûr'nədē`nō), city (1990 pop. 164,164), seat of San Bernardino co., S Calif., at the foot of the San Bernardino Mts.; inc. 1854. last year and began this season at Double-A San Antonio San Antonio (săn ăntō`nēō, əntōn`), city (1990 pop. 935,933), seat of Bexar co., S central Tex., at the source of the San Antonio River; inc. 1837. before a promotion to Albuquerque, where he was 3-1 with a 3.68 ERA in five starts. And now this. Consider it a left-handed compliment to Brito and, indirectly, to Fernando. |
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