The Reds Play Oakland Today Where Were You in '72 or '90?

The Reds will host the Oakland Athletics at Goodyear Ballpark at 4:05 Eastern Time.

The Reds and A's met for the first time in the 1972.  Gene Tenace hit two home runs in the opening game at Riverfront Stadium as the A's took a quick two game lead in the series.  The Reds went to Oakland and battled back winning two of three in the Bay Area to force a return to Cincinnati. The Reds pounded the A's in game six. Catfish Hunter beat the Reds in Game 7, 3-2.

The Reds swept the heavily favored Oakland A's with "Bash Brothers" Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire.  Eric Davis, who has been in Goodyear coaching baserunners and outfielders, hit a three-run home run in the first inning of Game 1. Billy Hatcher, the Reds' firstbase coach hit .750 (9-for-12) in the series.  Chris Sabo hit two home runs in Game 3.  Jose Rijo outpitched Dave Stewart in Game 4 as the Reds scored two runs in the eighth to win, 2-1.

They will oppose left-handed pitcher Brett Anderson. Anderson, 25 years old, was the second round pick of the Arizona Diamonbacks in 2006. He was traded to Oakland in 2007, along with five other players, for Dan Haren and Connor Robertson.

Anderson broke into the majors in 2009, making 30 starts, in which he was 11-11 with a 4.06 ERA.
In the last three seasons the number of starts has decreased each year.  He started 19 games in 2010 (7-6), 13 games in 2011 (3-6) and six games in 2012 (4-2).

The Reds' lineup is:

Derrick Robinson CF
Brandon Phillips 2B
Joey Votto 1B
Ryan Ludwick LF
Chris Heisey RF
Todd Frazier 3B
Zack Cozart SS
Ryan Hanigan C
Johnny Cueto P

Robinson is getting another start while Shin-Soo Choo remains out with back spasms.  Choo will have a full workout today.  "There is nothing structurally wrong," Dusty Baker said.  "I don't think we fully understand how backs work.  He has never had one before."

Cueto is scheduled to pitch five innings. Sam LeCure will follow with one inning.  Mark Prior will get into a big league game and pitch one inning. Logan Ondrusek will pitch one inning.  Wilkin De La Rosa will pitch an inning.