Young Reds Blast Diamondbacks

The man with my new favorite name, Tuffy Gosewisch, made the last out as Nick Christiani finished off the Arizona Diamondbacks at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, a 14-6 triumph.

The most important news is that Johnny Cueto was pain-free, if not effective.  The Diamondbacks scored four times in his two innings in which he expended 40 pitches.

"I was happy to get out there and throw," Cueto said.  "I was able to throw 40 pitches.  I didn't feel my oblique.  I felt nothing."

Cueto last pitched in the Division Series opener but left after eight pitches with a strained right oblique.

Only two of the runs were earned.  Brandon Phillips muffed a ground ball that he could have possibly turned into a double play.  Cueto allowed five hits and a walk.

Joey Votto's knee seems to be better too.  He had an RBI single and is hitting a cool .400 for the spring, playing every day.  He is still debating about playing for the Canadian team in the World Baseball Classic. "If he does play, he wants to be a designated hitter," Baker said before the game.

As for Cueto whom the Reds denied permission to play for the Dominican in the WBC, Baker was just pleased to see him throw pain free.

"He got the ball up which is unlike Johnny," Baker said.  "For the first time out he was happy."

"We had to get the regulars out of there to score some runs," Baker said.

A trio of youthful outfielders came out swinging.  Denis Phipps, Yorman Rodriguez and Donald Lutz were hungry.

"And they ate too," Baker quipped.  "It was good to see."

Phipps tripled and scored on Neftali Soto's sacrifice fly.  Yorman Rodriguez had two hits, including a long home run  and a walk. He drove in three runs and scored three.  Lutz, who played firstbase today, doubled in two runs in the Reds' six-run sixth inning and blasted a three-run home run in the ninth inning.

Henry Rodriguez also had three hits in three at bats.

After Cueto left, Clay Hensley pitched two scoreless innings. Drew Hayes, who had two appearances and made just two pitches, threw an inning and a third, allowing one hit and a walk. Chad Rogers and Nick Christiani had scoreless outings as well.

Daniel Corcino was the only other pitcher the Diamondbacks solved, giving up two runs because he walked four batters and threw a wild pitch.  He allowed only one hit, a double to Aaron Hill.

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