Reds Down Indians In Cactus League Opener

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Print the World Series tickets the Reds used three home runs to down the Cleveland Indians 6-4, as they started off the Cactus League on Friday.

Tucker Barnhart, Brendan Dizon and Rosell Herrera hit home runs to start the exhibition season.
The Reds and Indians like every other team in Major League Baseball, they wore a Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School hat to honor the 17 victims and the survivors of th shooting tragedy in Parkland, Florida.

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“I don’t think wearing a hat will change anything,” said Indians manager Terry Francona.  “I think showing support is always a good thing.  In my opinion it’s a very small thing but if it helps even one single person, good.”

The game itself featytured Sal Romano, one of four candidates for the final slot in the Reds' starting rotation with Michael Lorenzen, Tyler Mahle , and Robert Stephenson

Yonder Alonso, the Reds first pick in 2008, is now with the Indians.  Alonso found his power stroke last year, hitting 28 home runs.  His career high through 2016 was nine.

Alonso, who is expected to fill the Indians power void left by Carlos Santana, who signed a free agent contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.  Alonso hit the first pitch he saw from Romano over the beer deck in rightfield.

"I think the first at bat is the hardest one," Alonso said. "Early on in spring training you want to make sure you're attacking the right pitches.  You just want a good pitch to hit."

That was the only run allowed by Romano.

"It was a first-pitch fastball," Romano said.  "I had pretty good command of everything.  I got behind in the count a couple times. I threw two change ups that felt good. It was a successful day. It was nice to get back out there."

Romano worked a scoreless first inning but Alonso led off the second with his blast.

"We had really good pitching today.  We had one walk (it was three) and guys attacked the zone," Price said.  "There was a good feel for many of them for all three pitches."

Barnhart follwed a Jose Peraza single with a home run on the first pitch he saw from Danny Otero

Dixon hit a two-run shot in the sixth off  Preston Clairborne.

The Indians Eric Stamets hit his first of the season off Jackson Stephens

Then Herrera homered off Mstt Whitehouse.

The Indians cut the lead to one run when Richie Shaffer hit a long fly ball with two men on base.

Reds' centerfielder Jose Siri chased it and slammed into the fence.  He was removed from the game.

"He pinned back his thumb on his left hand and it knocked the wind out him," Bryan Price said.  "He was catching his breath.  We weren't going to mess with it. We didn't know for sure what was going on with his thumb. I don't think it's terribly serious."

Herrera's solo home run gave the Reds a cushion

Jimmy Herget finished off the Indians with a scoreless ninth.