Sal Romano And The Reds Flus Royals Win Five In A Row

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Eugenio Suarez and Ryan Raburn homered as the Reds won their fifth straight Cactus League game, 7-3.

Sal Romano got his first start and was tagged for his first run, a home run by Mike Moustakas in the first.  Romano finished with three innings, allowing one run on two hits and four strike outs.

“It was a lot of fun,” Romano said. “That first inning I was a little bit nervous, excited to be out there. The ball was a little up but other than that.  I was able to use all my pitches. It was nice to get a start. My body feels great. I’m confident. I’m excited to show what I can do.”

He has logged seven innings with nine strikeouts.  Last spring he pitched just three innings in Cactus League games.

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“Sal looked great. I thought he threw the ball as well as he has all spring,” Bryan Price said. “He had a better breaking ball and had command of it.  After the first inning he was able to pound the fastball down in the zone with improved command. He is very polished. He’s making a very, very positive impression.”

Tucker Barnhart opened the third inning with a single off former Red Travis Wood..  Arismendy Alcantara’s triple drove in the run. Billy Hamilton had an infield single with Alcantara scoring.

Billy Burns homered off Michael Lorenzen, who gave up two runs in two innings. Alex Gordon and Paulo Orlando singled. Two ground outs got the run home.

Joey Votto singled with one out in the fifth.  One out later Suarez hit his second home run of the spring.  Suarez along with everyone except the firstbase umpire, Jeff Nelson lost track of the ball. Suarez slid into third but after a brief conference was awarded with a home run. 

The Reds loaded the bases with two out in the seventh.  Singles by Chad Wallach, Jessee Winker and Tony Renda loaded the bases.  Dilson Herrera’s ground ball was muffed by secondbaseman. Ramon Torres.  Wallach scored but Winker was thrown out at home.

Blake Wood, Tony Cingrani and Nefi Ogando pitched scoreless innings.

Patrick Kivlehan hit an eighth inning single to extend his streak to six games. He stole second, advanced to third on single by Hernan Iribarren.  Gabriel Guerrero’s single gave the Reds the final margin.

Lisalverto Bonilla put three men on base with one out but Iribarren and Vincej turned a hot smash by Samir Duenez into a game ending double play.

“We had some nice plays today,” Price said. ‘Joey’s flip to Lorenzen took athletes on both ends.  Defense has been showing up every game.”