Cincinnati Reds option Curtis Partch, re-call Pedro Villarreal

Jul 21, 2013; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Curtis Partch (46) pitches during the ninth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Great American Ball Park. The Pirates defeated the Reds 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports /

The Cincinnati Reds optioned right handed pitcher Curtis Partch today to Triple-A Louisville, swapping him for right handed pitcher Pedro Villarreal.

Partch allowed five runs in Friday’s loss against the St. Louis Cardinals and now owns an ERA over 5.71 over 11 appearances at the major league level. The Cincinnati Reds dropped to the St. Louis Cardinals 13-3 in the series opener.

He walked the first three batters he faced, two of them with the bases loaded, then gave up a two run double to Jon Jay.

The man replacing him, is entering his third stint with the Reds this season. His only appearance was an emergency start on June 5th, picking up the start after Johnny Cueto was injured. Villarreal and the Reds lost that game in his emergency start against the Colorado Rockies, 12-4.

Villarreal has a 5.08 ERA over 15 starts in Triple-A Louisville, but will serve as bullpen depth as the Reds prepare to enter the second game of the series against the St. Louis Cardinals.

The recently recalled picked up a 14.73 ERA in his only game of the season for the Reds this year. He gave up 10 hits, three home runs and six earned runs in just 3.2 innings of work.

Hopefully he does better with the club his third time around.

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