Reed, with help from Katz, fires shutout

After a strong start, pitchers often credit their catchers for calling a great game. When the catcher in question is making his pro debut behind the plate, that praise is extra special.

Palm Beach left-hander Jimmy Reed teamed up with backstop Mason Katz, a nominal infielder, on a brilliant four-hit shutout of visiting Clearwater on Friday morning. The Cardinals prospect struck out five, did not walk a batter and needed only 85 pitches to dispatch the Threshers, 1-0. It was Reed's second nine-inning complete game of the season.

"It was a lot of fun working with [Katz]," Reed said. "He's caught before, but just never in a pro game. He's a smart guy who reads the game well -- I had 100 percent confidence in him."

Reed faced just two over the minimum in the gem thanks to a pair of double plays and one runner caught stealing. Not only is Katz's career catcher ERA 0.00, he's thrown out all (one) of the baserunners trying to steal on him.

Reed's game plan was simple and he executed it to perfection.

"I'm always trying to get ahead of hitters with my fastball early," he said. "Then you can expand the zone and get hitters to chase."

Reed isn't an overwhelming strikeout pitcher -- he has 29 in 47 1/3 innings this season and no more than six in any of his seven starts -- but he does feature impeccable control, walking just four of the 187 batters he's faced. With today's gem he improved to 3-2 with a 2.47 ERA.

The southpaw is particularly tough against left-handed hitters, who are batting .191 against him, but no slouch against righties, who have managed only a .237/.257/.282 line. Reed has yet to allow a home run this season -- he surrendered 10 in 138 1/3 innings last year -- and all four of the Threshers' hits Friday were singles.

Two of those singles came off the bat of top Phillies prospect J.P. Crawford, who is now hitting .397 in 14 games after an oblique injury forced him to miss the first month of the season. Despite owning the second-best team batting average in the Florida State League, Clearwater's other hitters went a combined 2-for-25.

The Threshers' pitchers were nearly as effective, allowing only four hits, but starter David Whitehead (2-6) also issued four walks and hit a batter. The hit batsman, Palm Beach center fielder C.J. McElroy, later scored on a groundout.

Though Reed's future is clearly on the mound, Katz is polishing his resume to play nearly everywhere. Today's debut came with starting catcher Carson Kelly, who had played four straight games, getting a rest and backup catcher Jose Gonzalez serving as the designated hitter.

Katz has spent most of his pro career at second base but has also played first and third. On Thursday night he served as the Cardinals' right fielder. If nothing else, he may have a bright future as Jimmy Reed's personal catcher.