Billy Hamilton Gets Reds Off To Fast Start But Mariners Overtake Reds With Power

Billy Hamilton did just what the Reds want him to do. The speedster started both Reds scoring innings.

The Reds jumped on the Mariners with four runs after two were out in the third inning.  Hamilton beat out a bunt to start the rally.  Skip Schumaker, who tormented the Reds as one of the hated St. Louis Cardinals, is making himself some friends with a single to center sending Hamilton to third.  Joey Votto drove Hamilton in with a ground ball single between first and second.  Then the Mariners defense got lost in the fog.  Brandon Phillips reached when Logan Morrison could neither locate nor catch Phillips pop up.  Schumaker scored Votto cruised to third.  Chris Heisey grounded to third but Nate Tenbrink held onto the ball too long because Carlos Triunfel was late covering second.  The throw went straight to the ground and bounded past Triunfel into center. Votto and Phillips scored to make it 4-0.

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Meanwhile, Alfredo Simon, getting a chance to start in case he is needed in that role early in the season pitched three scoreless innings to go with the two he authored in the first Cactus League tilt.

"Even if we had all five starters healthy the goal in the spring was to stretch Alfredo out as a starter up to two thirds of the way through spring training," Price said. "He has earned the right to have an opportunity to start if there is an opportunity. He has been so good pitching out of the bullpen. He has a starter's background. He is big and durable."

"Simon was terrific," Price said after the game. "In the first inning he struggled with command in the first inning. He was pulling off some pitches but he made a real good adjustment and cruised threw the last two innings."

Simon is excited to get the opportunity. He has worked exclusively out of the bullpen for the Reds since coming to them in 2012 but made 16 starts for Baltimore in 2010.

"I am excited to get the opportunity. I'm really happy. Let's see what happens," Simon said. "I just try to keep the ball in front. My breaking ball was really good today. I was a starter in Baltimore. I put in my mind that I was going every five days. I am trying to think the same way now."

Aroldis Chapman pitched two innings.  He allowed a run on three hits, working on his change-up. Still he struck out three batters.

Chapman pitched an easy third inning but Michael Saunders singled to lead off the second inning. Stefan Romero hit into a double play but Nate Tenbrink singled.  Mike Zunino doubled Tenbrink home.

"It gives us a chance to work on his slider. The repetition is good for him. He really enjoys it," Price said. "You may have noticed he threw eight change-ups which more than he threw at any point in time last year when he was starting in spring training. We'll building up to three innings and then start to work him back down."

Hamilton got the run back with his legs.  He walked to start the Reds fourth.  As the crowd anticipated Hamilton stole second and continued to third when Zunino's throw went to center. Skip Schumaker hit a foul ball to shallow leftfield in foul territory. Romero made the catch but couldn't even make a throw as Hamilton sped home.

Once the regulars left the Seattle split squad over powered Chad Rogers, who is famous for a shark bite he suffered while surfing off the coast of Corpus Christi, Texas.

Brad Miller hit a solo home run in the sixth and Chris Taylor launched a grand slam to give the Mariners the game.

The Reds played errorless baseball but the Mariners made five.

"It is a funky game. It's not often when you don't make any errors and your opponent makes five and you lose the game," Price said.  "We didn't take advantage of an opportunity they gave us.  We didn't do much late in the game."