Reitsma loses arbitration case with the Reds

[WebHamster]

Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - The Cincinnati Reds won their salary arbitration case with pitcher Chris Reitsma on Thursday, and will pay the righthander $950,000 in 2004.

The 26-year-old was 9-5 with 12 saves and a 4.29 ERA in 57 games for the Reds in 2003, winning the Johnny Vander Meer Award as Cincinnati's best pitcher. Reitsma earned $350,000 last season, making a career-low three starts.

He sought a salary of $1.45 million for the upcoming campaign.

Reitsma is 22-32 with a 4.52 ERA over his three-year career, spent entirely with the Reds, including 53 starts.