The Reds Regulars Are Beginning to Hit in 14-13 Win Over the Cubs

The Reds clubbed the Cubs 14-13.  The Cubs did out hit the Reds 22-18 and had two on with one out but Jeremy Horst pitched out of it without giving up the lead.

"I'm glad I was wrong," Dusty Baker said.  "I told the guard in the second inning that this would be a 13-12 game."

It was a bullpen day.

"In a game like this everyone was just ok," Baker said of the pitching. "It was tough on pitching today. You're going to have those kind of games.  You have to win those, too.  We had guys trying to make the club."

Sam LeCure allowed runs for the first time all spring.  The Cubs scored six runs off him in 2.1 innings.  LeCure could win a bullpen spot with the Reds or be a part of the Louisville starting rotation.  All of his other outings were in relief  The same is true of Matt Maloney.  He allowed three runs on five hits in two innings..


Maloney tweeted, "That was brutal. Turn the page, and get after again in a few days."

"He is making the decision tough for us before spring training started," Baker said.  "He pitched well for us last year."

The Reds starters are starting to feel it at the plate.

When the game started, Drew Stubbs was hitting .207 he had two hits.
Brandon Phillips was at .167 he had two hits.
Joey Votto started at .231 he homered and singled.
Scott Rolen was hitting .250 he hit his first home run of the spring.
Jay Bruce had a .259 average, he had two hits, including a double.
Jonny Gomes broke out of a .071 funk with two doubles.
Ryan Hanigan had two hits, improving his .286 average to .333.

"That was like sweet.  Stubbs came alive some.  Gomes and Brandon.  It was the longest those guys have played,"  Baker said.  "They'll play some length today, then back them off the next day.  Then we get them ready for nine innings."

To the chagrin of my good friend, Steve Watkins, the Reds took all four games against the Cubs this spring.