Rijo

CINCINNATI -- Jose Rijo returned to the major leagues after six years on the sidelines and five elbow operations, pitching two scoreless innings for the Cincinnati Reds on Friday night.

"I cannot describe with words how I feel right now. It's beyond anything in my life that I ever accomplished," an emotional Rijo said. "No moment could beat this moment today, until I die and go to heaven and meet Jesus. This feeling is that close."

Rijo pitched the eighth and ninth innings of the Reds' 5-1 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers. He allowed two hits and walked two but pitched out of a bases loaded jam in the ninth, striking out two.

How long had it been since the 36-year-old Rijo pitched in the majors? He received a vote on a Hall of Fame ballot this year.

Rijo -- the MVP of the 1990 World Series, when the Reds swept the Oakland Athletics -- became the first player to appear in a major league game after receiving a Hall of Fame vote since Minnie Minoso got six in 1969 and then played for the Chicago White Sox in 1976 and 1980.

"I'm not worried about the Hall of Fame. That doesn't mean anything," Rijo said. "It's more important to be here today."

The Reds bought Rijo's contract from Triple-A Louisville. He took the roster spot of third baseman Aaron Boone, who went on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday with a broken right wrist.

"He's the 12th man," said manager Bob Boone before the game. "I would like to get him in a non-stress situation."

Rijo hadn't pitched in the majors since July 18, 1995, when a throbbing elbow forced him to leave a game in San Diego. He gave up a single to pitcher Joey Hamilton, called the trainer to the mound, then walked off holding the arm as tears welled in his eyes.

"I guess he figured if I could get a hit off him, he was broke," said Hamilton, who was in the Reds' clubhouse Friday after signing a minor league contract and waiting to be assigned to Triple-A Louisville.

Hamilton, released by the Toronto Blue Jays on Aug. 3, said he and Rijo talked about Rijo's last major league appearance over dinner Thursday.

When Rijo left the mound in San Diego, he knew it was time for reconstructive elbow surgery that would jeopardize the rest of his career.

He came back too fast from the first operation, damaged the elbow and had to have four more operations.

At one point, he went two years without throwing, but he never abandoned hope of someday returning to the majors.

"I never thought it would take this long," Rijo said. "Nobody has any idea how hard it was to be here today."

Rijo received congratulatory calls from all over the country Friday, and a hearty welcome in the Reds' clubhouse.

Sean Casey hugged Rijo, and Ken Griffey Jr. joked about the length of Rijo's hiatus.

"I was this tall when you last saw me," Griffey said, holding his hand at waist level. "I used to hang around the clubhouse with my daddy."

Rijo said his life the past few months has been "a roller coaster" and continues to be.

"I've been through a beautiful ride, even though there has been so much wear and tear," he said.

Rijo signed a minor league contract July 2 and had a 4.05 ERA in six starts and two relief appearances.

His fastball topped out at 89 mph when he threw for Reds coaches last week at Cinergy Field, and he was strong again during one scoreless inning for Louisville on Sunday.

"Very few pitchers throw over 90," said Rijo, who believes he can be effective again in the big leagues.

"When I face my first two or three hitters, I'll know what to expect of myself," he said before the game.

Rijo's absence of six years and 30 days from the majors is the longest since Kip Gross and Larry Luebbers went six years between big league appearances from 1993-99.

Rijo said he will be comfortable working out of the bullpen. He made 30 relief appearances during his first season with the Reds in 1988. His last 202 appearances for the Reds were as a starting pitcher.

Rijo operates a baseball academy for the Reds in his native Dominican Republic, where he plans to continue working this winter toward his goal of returning to the starting rotation.

"I'm just going to take it one day at a time," he said. "But I expect to be in spring training with the Reds next year.

"I think I can help this team in many ways. I belong here not based on what I did before, but what I can do now."

Rijo, who also played for Oakland and the New York Yankees, has a career 111-87 record with a 3.16 ERA. He led the NL in strikeout with 227 in 1993.