CINCINNATI -- Jeremy Sowers has now made 29 Major League starts, and four of them have come against the National League's Reds.

Go figure.

"I was thinking about the irony that they're not even in the same league we are, but I've faced them more than I've faced Detroit and Chicago combined," Sowers said before his demotion back to Triple-A Buffalo on Saturday. "It's kind of funny, but at least I had somewhat of a decent start against them, as opposed to the two last year."

The "somewhat decent" start Sowers referred to was his outing Friday night, when he allowed three runs on five hits over five innings.

It was Sowers' second spot start of the season, and the life of the spot starter is never easy.

"I guess it's a little bit difficult because it creates a hectic schedule for you," he said. "That being said, I drove to Cleveland for one [an April 26 outing against the Yankees] and flew four hours away to Cincinnati for the other, so both were pretty favorable environments. It also helps that I've done it before, as opposed to this being my first time up. I'm comfortable up here."

Sowers, who turned 25 on Saturday, will head back to Buffalo, where he is 2-2 with a 2.21 ERA in seven starts. His ERA ranks fifth in the International League.