Reds Drop Decision To Royals

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The Reds literally dropped a 10-3 game to the Kansas City Royals.

The trend of sloppy play continued aggravating a pair of pitching performances that was not the best to begin with

Anthony DeSclafani got the fifth batter he faced in the first inning on a comeback ball for the first out.

The Royals scored four runs on a triple to open the game by Whit Merrifield started DeSclafani's downfall.  Erick Martin hit a high hopping ground ball that Cliff Pennington could not stop.  Paulo Orlando singled.  Jorge Soler hit what could have been a double play ground ball to Jose Peraza at shortstop but Peraza dropped the ball.  Jorge Bonifaio doubled. Saunders was out on DeSclafani's throw to first.

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DeSclafani got the next two hitters out to end the inning and finished with two innings, allowing five hits, a walk and three earned runs.

"I threw a lot of strikes. I could have thrown more quality strikes.  They put the barrel on the ball," DeSclafani said.  "Some found holes, some were hit hard.  That's going to happen. This is my second start after having been down for 17 months and haven't faced big league hitters. I'm not going to be frustrated.  I've had good pens (bullpen sessions). My arm feels great. I need to make better pitches."

DeSclafani pointed out the his last spring start in 2015 he gave up nine runs and won nine games, while making 31 starts.

Jimmy Herget bridged the gap between DeSclafani and Tyler Mahle with a scoreless inning.

Mahle gave up four runs, three earned in 2 2/3 innings.  He gave up three hits and a walk but was also vexed by an error.  Pennington lost a pop up in the high sky and Peraza couldn't come up with a flare, jam shot in the sixth.

"I felt good. I was missing spots with my fastball. My changes (change ups) were good.  My breaking ball was good but I was missing spots," Mahle said.

Mahle started camp trying to improve his slider and change up.

"It is still a work in progress but they've come a long way," Mahle said.  "I'm not happy with how today went but as a whole, I feel good with everything.  I base every thing off of is hitting my spots. Other games I didn't give up runs.  If I miss my spot and a blooper falls in, it is still my fault because who knows what would have happened if I hit my spot."

Bryan Price had this assessment of the pitching.

"I'm thrilled DeSco felt good," Price said.  "He could have been sharper but he was making them swing the bat.  We dropped a fringe double play too.  With Mahle, I tip my hat to their hitters.  They fouled off a lot of pitches and made us throw a lot without expanding the strike zone.  Mahles slider and change up are getting better.  I want him to continue to work on them.  He was around the plate and that's what you want to see."

The Reds offense didn't exist until the sixth inning.  Peraza singled and Schebler's double his second hit, drove in the run.  Adam Duvall homered for the second time this spring, scoring Schebler ahead of him.

Phil Gosselin, trying to earn a bench spot, had two hits, including a double.  Patrick Kivlehan was on base twice. He singled and was hit by a pitch.