Notes: Redding returning to form
05/18/2004 By Zev Mines / Special to MLB.com

Last week, Tim Redding tied a season high with six innings pitched. (Tony Dejak/AP)

MIAMI -- After a slow start to the season, right-hander Tim Redding has begun returning to the form that many in the organization expect from him.
Redding, who starts on Wednesday against Florida, has allowed just two earned runs in as many starts after giving up 18 in his previous four starts.

So what's been the key to the turnaround? It's actually simpler than one might think.

"The big thing is, he's gotten outs," said manager Jimy Williams. "He's used the pitches of his so-called 'repertoire' and gotten outs. His stuff is basically the same."

At times Redding was getting behind in the count, and in the process, amassing plenty of pitches in a short amount of innings. When he was ahead of hitters and in position to get a key out, his location wasn't where it needed to be.

"The first couple of starts, I felt I was throwing the ball relatively well," said Redding. "It's just that when I got into tough situations, I made bad pitches over the middle part of the plate. These guys who are paid a lot of money to hit the ball out of the ballpark have been doing just that."

But Redding didn't panic, even though his ERA rose to a robust 10.57 after a no-decision vs. the Reds on May 2. In 2003 -- his first full season in Houston -- he led the team with a 3.68 ERA.

Against the Marlins last week in Houston, Redding tied a season high with six innings pitched and allowed just one run.

"You keep working, you trust in yourself, you believe that you're still a good ballplayer and that this is a pretty tough game to play," said pitching coach Burt Hooton. "He probably pitched a little bit better two starts ago than he did in his last start, but he's making progress in the right direction."