Homer Bailey and the Reds got off to a rough start and lost a 4-3 decision to the Los Angeles Angels but had encouraging developments to ease the pain.
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The Reds tied the game in the third against Garrett Richard. Billy Hamilton and Cliff Pennington walked. Jesse Winker flied out to right. Nick Senzel singled Hamilton home as Pennington took third. Joey Votto walked. Adam Duvall, who led the NL with 11 sacrifice flies last season, hit run scoring fly to center.
The Angels took the two-run lead back in their half of the third. Kinsler singled and went to third Mike Trout's single. Justin Upton hit a hard ground ball to the right of Senzel at thirdbase. Senzel fielded the ball, looked Kinsler back then threw to Votto at first. Votto came off the bag and threw home too late to get Kinsler. Kole Calhoun hit a sacrifice fly to score Trout.
Bailey pitched four inning, allowing four earned runs on six hits and a walk. He struck out two.
"I wasn't very sharp in the first inning. As the game went on I got a lot better," said Bailey, who is healthy for the first time in three seasons. "The biggest thing is health. Right now I feel really well so, Then its just executing pitches. Right now it's still early, you are going to have those little misses. I'm catching more plate then, I normally would but right now I'd rather catch more of the plate than walk guys. As you sharpen up the groundballs get a little bit softer."
Bryan Price echoed what Bailey said.
"I thought the only inning he didn't throw the ball well was the first," Price said. "He gave up the homer on the second pitch. He had a walk and a ball down the line by Pujols. Other than that the two runs in the third inning, were from a couple ground balls, well placed. After that he was a lot better. It was a really strong finish."
Bailey got Japanese rookie Shohei Ohtani out three times but got away with a hanging curve ball. The Japanese media was all over it.
"He just missed a curve ball I threw him. I'm glad he did," Bailey said. "I really want to see him pitch. To come over can't be an easy transition. To go both ways would be even harder but I wish the guy the best. Some of his swings that I saw, my fastball would play better. He fouled my curveball straight back."
Reds top draft choice from 2016 started at thirdbase. He had a nice game defensively as well as his RBI single in the third.
"He was spectacular," Price said. "He made some really tough plays. He really, really looked comfortable with an accurate strong arm."
Amir Garrett and Cody Reed pitched two scoreless innings in relief of Bailey and threw the ball well.
"They were good, really good," Price said. "A couple of lefties attacking the zone, throwing strikes with good competitive stuff. I am really happy for Cody. He made one mistake. It was a high change up that Herrera made a nice play to end his first inning. Other than that there were a lot of balls on the ground. He had really good pitch quality, fastball, slider, change up. That's what we were really hoping to see. He looks a lot more like the guy we got in the trade (for Johnny Cueto)."
John Lamb another guy the Reds' got in the trade for Cueto pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings for the Angels. Zach Cozart hit a single off Garrett in three at bats. Ohtani was 0-for-4 with a strike out.
The Reds scored another run off last year's teammate, Blake Wood in the seventh.
Billy Hamilton, who has been working with Joe Morgan on bunting, laid down a bunt single. Hamilton was caught stealing by Renee Rivera. After Cliff Pennington grounded out, Patrick Kivlehan doubled to right center. Alex Blandino singled to score Kivlehan.
Kivlehan walked with two outs in the ninth but was picked off by Ian Krol to end the game.
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