Skip Are We Trying? Reds Scrub Padres

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Pete Harnisch would look at the lineup on the days he pitched and feigned disgust when he read the names of his supporting cast.

“Skip, are we trying here,” Harnisch would bellow at the manager in a loud New York accent.

The light hearted jab at his teammates were brought to mind when the veteran writers saw, seldom used Partick Kivlehan, Arismendy Alcantara and scarcely used catcher Stuart Turner in the lineup to face former Reds’ left-hander Travis Wood.

The scrubs contributed to the Reds 8-3 win.

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“We aren’t going to see a lot of left-handers,” Bryan Price said.  “I’ve been playing our guys a lot.  I’m not trying to have Winker avoid lefties but it was a good time to get Kivlehan some needed at bats.  Sxooter (Gennett) has been playing a lot. Alcantara needs some too.  We don’t have Devin (Mesoraco) back from maternity leave.  Turner needs some time.”

Zack Cozart sat out too.  He is freshly off the disabled list with a sore quad and needs periodic rest.  The Red have a quick turnaround day game at 12:30 on Thursday.  Price thought this was a good time.

The Reds’ starter Asher Wojciechowski still has his rookie status.  He started three games for the Houston Astros in 2015.  The former first round draft choice of the Toronto Blue Jays in 2010, was released by the Arizona Diamondbacks on March 28. He sat home for three weeks and the Reds signed him on April 21.  Wojciechowski impressed enough to earn a call up on May 20.

"He was spot on," Price said. "He was on the attack.  His pitch count was up to what his previous high was. We wanted him to finish the sixth to get him stretched out"

The Reds loaded the bases with two outs against Wood in the first inning.  Jose Peraza hit a two-run single.  Eugenio Suarez hit a two-run home run in the third.  Turner contributed his first career home run off Wood with a man on in the fifth.

'You can't worry about results when you get your chance," Turner said.  'I do a lot of drill work to get some swings.  I saw that Wood liked to on game tape.  He threw me a cut fastball.  My eyes lit up.  That's what we (bench guys) want to do is to contribute to a win."

"There were a lot of great moments.  Stuart is in a tough spot, not getting to play a lot," Price said.  "I tip my hat to him.  I had a feeling that those guys were going to play a good game. Kivlehan was on base twice.  Mendy (Alcantara) hit the ball hard to rightfield.  I'm happy for those guys to be part of a win from beginning to end.   Turner called a good game too." 

Wojciechowski was busy stifling San Diego on three singles through five innings.  Manuel Margot led off the sixth with his 10th home run.  Wojciechowski got two quick outs, heading to a quality start but Yangervis Solarte doubled and Wil Myers unloaded his 22nd home run to cut the Reds’ lead in half.

Bryan Price gave Wojciechowski a chance to finish the inning but Hunter Renfroe dumped a single to left.  Michael Lorenzen completed the inning.

The Reds got two runs back in the bottom of the frame.  Billy Hamilton singled and stole his 45th base of the season off Carter Capps.  Kivlehan ripped a ball off Cory Spangenberg’s glove at third.  Hamilton had to stop at third.  Joey Votto, who had already extended his hitting streak to 14 games, hit into an RBI force play.  Peraza drove in his third tun of the game with a single up the middle.  Votto avoided the tag standing up.

Wandy Peralta and Blake Wood contributed scoreless innings to the win.

Turner got the game ball and was warned not to let the son, that he is expecting at the end of the month, play with the ball.