Bruce Drives in Three Runs But Reds Fall to Royals 7-5

Jay Bruce is still swinging a hot bat this spring.  He hit a long home run to center against Jonathan Sanchez and singled home two runs.

"Jay is ahead of the class right now," Dusty Baker said.  "Heisey is struggling a little bit.  He's pulling off the ball but he struggled some last year.  (Drew) Stubbs had some good at bats.  We scored some runs."

Stubbs walked, singled and scored two runs.

Mike Leake gave up four runs but was getting ground balls on the hard turf at Surprise caused him problems.

"I threw ok.  It was good getting ground balls but they found holes.  This is Arizona.  Everything was working, I was just dropping the elbow, getting 2-0 counts," Leake said.

"He wasn't as sharp but a lot of ground balls found holes and there were some near double plays," Baker said.  "It is hard to judge ground ball pitchers in Arizona.  We know what Leake can do.  He doesn't like it and we don't like it but sometimes you have to leave the pitcher out there to get his work in.  He's working on some things."

Didi Gregorius made another spectacular play.  He dived to his left to snare a hard ground ball on this rock hard turf and turned it into a double play.

Sam LeCure allowed a home run in two innings but Baker said his outing was better.

"He got better as the game went on," Baker said.  "He had a fastball get away inside.  The one thing these guys are ready to hit is a fastball."

Sean Gallagher pitched another scoreless inning, giving him six in three appearances.