Tony Cruz Spreads Sunshine On A Cloudy Day Reds Cruise Past Mariners

http://donatelifeohio.org/

Tony Cruz used to back up the Reds' fans favorite whipping boy, Yadier Molina as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals.  Today he brightened up an otherwise gloomy day betrayed by the sun in Peoria, Arizona as the Reds' four-run ninth inning rally sunk the Seattle Mariners, 6-5

The boys from Cincinnati got 12 widely scattered hits to trail 4-2 going into the ninth inning.

http://www.wiedemannbeer.com/

Mike Morin came in to close the game out for Seattle but that didn't quite work.

Rosell Herrera walked to form a bad omen for Morin.  Phillip Ervin's double put the tying runs in scoring position.  Alex Blandino singled to score Herrera.  That brought Cruz to the plate, a catcher by trade, he replaced Joey Votto at first base.  Impersonating Votto perfectly Cruz cleared the fence in leftcenter field.

The Reds still had to hold onto the lead.  Dylan Floro, who was already optioned last week, was in his second inning of work.  Taylor Motter grounded out but Chuck Taylor, no really, Chuck Taylor wearing spikes singled.  Floro struck out former Red Zach Vincez but Danny Muno doubled inside thirdbase to send Taylor to third.  Evan White hit a ground ball into the hole between Cruz and Brendan Dixon.  The ball was off Dixon's glove but he stayed after it.  There was no chance to throw out White but Dixon fired home where Joe Hudson applied the tag that ended the game.

The win put sunshine on the Reds' starting rotation.  Early this morning they got news that Anthony DeSclafani had a strained left oblique, the injury that kept DeSclafani from his opening day start in 2016.  He didn't return until June of that season.

"There hasn't been a lot of good timing as far as arm injuries for the Reds," Bryan Price said.  "I don't know if there is such a thing."

The Reds got a run in the first inning against former teammate, Mike Leake.  Billy Hamilton got his first hit of the spring, a liner up the middle.  Eugenio Suarez singled but Joey Votto hit into a 5-4-3 double play, yes, a 5-4-3 double play.  Hamilton strolled 90 feet closer.  Scooter Gennett's single delivered the run.

Brandon Finnegan, making his second Cactus League start, struck out Ichiro Suzuki, who was signed by his former club on Wednesday.  It was Ichiro's first game of action.  Finnegan walked Jean Segura then left with spasms in his left forearm.

"Brandon had a cramp or some tightness in his tricep and it was affecting his grip," Price said.  "I think he would have stayed out there and continued to pitch but it didn't really make any sense, so we got him out of there.  We think it's a muscular issue but we'll know more by tomorrow morning."

What the big news of the day means is that there may be as many as three starting rotation spots up for grabs over the last 2 1/2 weeks before the opener.  It is highly unlikely that DeSclafani will be ready.  Finnegan had started a week late because weather in Texas prevented the lefty from throwing pre-camp bullpens and he just recovered from three separate injuries from 2017 that limited him to four games.

Now, Sal Romano, Tyler Mahle, Robert Stephenson and Michael Lorenzen have improved chances of making the starting rotation.

Lorenzen, who made a "B" game start to work on a delivery that was out of sync, pitched three rock solid innings, three hits, no walks and three strikeouts with one run scored.

"Michael looked terrific.  It's nice to see the changeup be a prominent pitch for him," Price said.  "It was a simpler mix of pitches, the fastball slider and change with very good command.  He had a solid delivery.  I'm really happy to see it."

The opportunity is there for Lorenzen to recapture a starting role after two years in the bullpen.

"I where I want to be right now," Lorenzen said.  "I made some adjustments while I was out there to clean it up a little bit.  With the angle of my fastball, I have to bury the breaking ball with two strikes.  Once I start doing that there'll be a lot more strikeouts, a lot fewer people putting the ball in play with two strikes."

"I show up every day to put myself in position," Lorenzen said.  "Every day I put work in so I can be the best I can possibly be.  It's no different for me (with the injuries to DeSclafani and Finnegan).  Hopefully, Finney's ok.  I will talk to him after the game to see how he is."