Saturday brought encouraging signs for the Cincinnati Reds and pitcher Edinson Volquez—in Louisville.

Volquez, demoted Monday after posting a 6.35 ERA in 10 starts with the Reds, pitched as if he’s eager to get back to Cincinnati, working a season-high 7 2/3 innings Saturday in the Class AAA Louisville Bats 4-3 victory over the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees.

“I felt good,” Volquez said, according to The Louisville Courier-Journal. “I haven’t had all my pitches like that in maybe two months. Tonight was probably my best game. It means a lot. It brings my confidence back, and I’ve got to keep working.”

Volquez was in line for the win until he allowed a two-out solo home run to Ramiro Pena in the eighth that tied the score at 2, the only negative on the night for Volquez.

“He hit a good pitch,” Volquez said, according to The Courier-Journal. “It was down and in. A lefty is always looking for something in. They have that golf swing. There was nothing I could do about it. It’s one pitch. The best thing was that we won.”

Before the home run, the only run he had allowed came in the first inning.

Volquez was so dominant that Bats manager Rick Sweet let him try to finish the eighth even while there was bullpen action.

Volquez retired the first two, but then Pena hammered the tying shot to right field. Sweet let Volquez pitch to one more batter, and Jesus Montero beat out an infield hit. That was it for Volquez, who threw 109 pitches, 69 for strikes.

ATLANTA (AP) — The Cincinnati Reds have called up left-hander Jeremy Horst from Triple-A Louisville before Saturday night’s game against the Atlanta Braves.

The 25-year-old Horst had a 1.73 ERA in 12 relief appearances for Louisville. He has never pitched in the major leagues.

Horst is the second Louisville pitcher to join the Reds in two days. Mike Leake was recalled and earned the win on Friday night.

Right-hander Homer Bailey was placed on the disabled list with a sprained right shoulder, retroactive to Friday. Right-hander Daryl Thompson, who gave up five runs in three innings in his only appearance with Cincinnati, was optioned to Double-A Carolina.

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The Cincinnati Reds optioned struggling
starter Edinson Volquez to Triple-A Louisville on Monday.

Volquez, a 2008 All-Star selection, posted a 3-2 record and a 6.35 ERA in 10
games — all starts — this season. He allowed 47 hits and 38 walks while
striking out 53 in 51 innings.

In Sunday’s 12-4 loss to Cleveland, Volquez lasted just 2 2/3 innings,
allowing seven runs — six earned –, with seven hits and four walks.

The Reds also optioned pitcher Jordan Smith to Louisville, while recalling
infielder/outfielder Todd Frazier and pitcher Matt Maloney from the same club.

Smith posted a 7.20 ERA in 17 appearances this season. He allowed 16 runs over
20 innings and failed in his lone save opportunity.

Frazier batted .293 with 11 home runs and 33 RBI in 44 games with Louisville.

The left-handed Maloney was 2-1 with a 4.45 ERA in five games — all starts –
with the Bats this season.

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The Cincinnati Reds have sent pitchers Edinson Volquez and Jordan Smith to the minor leagues, creating roster space for outfielder Todd Frazier and pitcher Matt Maloney.

Volquez started on Sunday at Cleveland and allowed seven runs (six earned) in 2-2/3 innings. Smith later entered the game in relief and allowed four runs in one inning. Both were optioned to Triple-A Louisville on Monday.

Frazier and Maloney were recalled from Louisville.  Frazier will be making his major-league debut.  Maloney was on the roster at the start of the year, but struggled in five outings.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Cincinnati Reds have sent former All-Star right-hander Edinson Volquez to the minors.

Volquez was optioned to Triple-A Louisville along with right-hander Jordan Smith before Monday’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies. Volquez was 3-2 with a 6.35 ERA in 10 starts. He won 17 games and was an All-Star in 2008.

Utilityman Todd Frazier and lefty Matt Maloney were called up to fill the roster spots. Maloney began the season with the Reds and was 0-1 with an 8.49 ERA in five appearances.

Smith had a 7.20 ERA in 17 games.

Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Edinson Volquez was 3-2 with a 6.35 earned-run average in 10 starts. (Lenny Ignelzi/Associated Press)

The Cincinnati Reds have sent former all-star right-hander Edinson Volquez to the minors.

Volquez was optioned to AAA Louisville along with right-hander Jordan Smith before Monday’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies. Volquez was 3-2 with a 6.35 earned-run average in 10 starts. He won 17 games and was an all-star in 2008.

Utilityman Todd Frazier and lefty Matt Maloney were called up to fill the roster spots. Maloney began the season with the Reds and was 0-1 with an 8.49 ERA in five appearances.

Smith had a 7.20 ERA in 17 games.