The injury riddled Anthony DeSclafani clawed his way back from a strained oblique that was diagnosed in Goodyear, Arizona in Mid-March to take on a 9-6 loss.
The right-hander made 20 starts after a similar injury delayed the start of the 2016 season and missed all of last season with several injurious setbacks.
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There were no apparent physical discomfort when he made his first start since a 2-1 win gave him a 9-5 record on September 28, 2016. The Rockies first four batters gave him plenty of discomfort.
DJ LeMahieu, himself recently returned from injury, singled to start the game. The Rockies were on the board two batters into the game when Charlie Blackmon tripled into the right field corner. Nolan Arenado drew a walk. Carlos Gonzalez hit a slow roller to Joey Votto at first, who wanted to throw home but DeSclafani was in the throwing lane. Votto opted to take the out at first but as he reached to tag Gonzalez, the pitcher was in his way again. The run scored and the Rockies had runners at first and second with no one out. Trevor Story hit a flare down the line that could have dropped in for a bloop double but Votto was able to snag it in foul territory. Gerardo Para hit a fly to Adam Duvall in left and Arenado appeared to mistake it for the third out and was doubled off second.
The Rockies continued to torment DeSclafani in the second inning. Ian Desmond hit a solid single to left. Chris Ianetta hit a towering fly that carried into the second row of right field seats.
"I had Iannetta 0-2. You can't leave the ball over the plate," DeSclafani said.
That was when DeSclafani got his act together. He retired the next six batters. Parra singled but Tucker Barnhart threw Parra out stealing. DeSclafani easily took care of the next five batters, concluding with a strikeout of the bearded, pesky Blackmon.
"The first two innings weren't the way I wanted them to go," DeSclafani said. "I made an adjustment. Tucker made a suggestion that I stayed closed a little longer. It worked."
The Reds rehabbed warrior, who is replacing Homer Bailey in the starting rotation finished with five innings, allowing four runs on six hits and a walk. He struck out five.
"He had a tough start but after the first two innings, he was his old self," Reds' manager Jim Riggleman said. "He was really good. It will give us something to build on."
Kyle Freeland cuffed the Reds on three singles through four innings until Scott Schebler hit his eighth home run.
Austin Brice relieved DeSclafani. Brice was lifted from the disabled list. Jackson Stephens went back to Louisville. To make room for DeSclafani on the 40-man roster, Kevin Shackelford was released.
Brice struggled in his return. Arenado and Gonzalez greeted him with singles. Story flied out to right. Parra singled to score Arenado. After Desmond grounded out the Reds ordered Iannetta walked intentionally but Brice made it a bad move by walking Freeland to bring home the sixth Rockie run.
"Uncharacteristically, our bullpen gave up some runs in the middle innings," Riggleman said. "That was unfortunate."
The Reds got to Freeland in the seventh inning. Schebler and Jose Peraza singled with one out. Alex Blandino struck out for the second out of the inning. Jesse Winker walked to fill the bases. Barnhart's ground ball found the hole at shortstop into left field. Mike Dunn came in to pitch to Votto. Votto was 1-for-13 against Dunn but rifled a single to left. Parra threw home in plenty of time to get Winker. Brian Gorman signaled out and the call held up under review.
Curt Casali doubled off Bryan Shaw in the ninth, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on Winker's ground out. Barnhart singles Votto singled for his third hit. Scooter Gennett singled to bring Barnhart home. Adam Duvall singled to plate Votto.
Bud Black had to call in his closer, Wade Davis to attempt his 19th save in his 21st opportunity. He faced Schebler as the tying run. Davis struck out Schebler looking on three pitches.
The Reds had 17 hits in the loss. The last time the Reds lost a game in which it had 17 hits was on September 5, 1984, a 15-11 loss to the San Diego Padres.
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