White Sox Shut Out Reds For the Second Time This Spring

Jay Bruce got his first hit of the spring.  Joey Votto hit a double. Brandon Phillips and Emmanuel Burris singled and that was the Reds offense.

Billy Hamilton walked and stole second, his third steal in two days.  We are starting to get a glimpse of his speed.

"It was good to see Jay get on the board," Dusty Baker said.  "He has a lot of pride.  Whether it is an exhibition or not you want to get your hits."

The Reds haven't hit well so far in spring.

"We're not keeping them in the (strike) zone," Baker said.  "We're swinging at balls in the dirt.  This is the time of year when hitters aren't ready to hit the breaking ball.  If anyone has one this early it is tough to hit.  We're fouling off the fastball too.  We'll get it straight."

Bronson Arroyo gave up two runs in his first start.   Baker predicted before the game that he would be hit hard because Arroyo is just trying to get ready.

He wasn't hit particularly hard.  Former Red Adam Dunn hit a solid single in the first inning.

"It happens a lot in spring," Arroyo said.  "Guys are in a different mind set.  When

you get two strikes on them it is hard to put them away."

Arroyo was sick with the flu for a week when the Reds reported.

"I feel good now," Arroyo said. "I feel like I'm on track. I'll have five or six
outings that should get me to seven innings before we get out of here
which is what we get every year."

Arroyo used a program to increase the velocity of his pitches last season.

"I followed the same program that I did last winter to increase my
velocity.  What you saw last year is all I've got.  I'm 87-89. That's
enough for me to be successful. I wanted to see if I could get back to
90-91 but I really can't get back except on exceptional  days. That's
fine.  As long as I can get to 89, I can command ballgames."