CHICAGO – Cincinnati Reds closer Emilio Pagán, who has been among the league’s best closers since returning from a severe hamstring injury on July 1, was headed for a medical evaluation on a sore pitching hand as the Reds headed home from Chicago after a 2-4 road trip.
Pagán, who has eight saves and a 1.46 ERA since returning from the injured list, reported soreness before the Reds’ series finale against the White Sox on Thursday (Aug. 13), manager Terry Francona said.
The conspicuous result was Julian Garcia, a 31-year-old rookie who debuted in June, pitching the ninth inning with a two-run lead in that game instead of Pagán. The Reds won 9-8.
“(Pagán) really wanted to pitch, but I had a hard time sending him out there,” Francona said. “We’re gonna get him looked at. If he checks out, good. But I just wanna make sure he’s OK.”
Pagán last pitched two nights earlier, when he pitched a 1-2-3 10th – including a strikeout on the 14th pitch of a leadoff at-bat against Sam Antonacci – in the Reds’ 5-4 win over the White Sox.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Reds closer Emilio Pagán sidelined by hand soreness, to be evaluated