Reds Pitching Encouraging In Spite Of Loss To Minor Mariners

The Reds played their second game of the day against the remnants of the Seattle Mariners. Shoddy fielding let the Reds down in a 6-3 loss.

Most of the Mariners have already opened the season in Tokyo, Japan against the Oakland Athletics.  The rest of the Mariner, who will probably start the season at Triple A stayed in Peoria to play the Reds split squad.

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Matt Bowman, who spent the last three seasons in St. Louis with David Bell as the bench coach, pitched two scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out two.  It was his fourth appearance since returning March 10 from a strained right lat.   Bowman has pitched five innings without allowing a run on one hit and one walk.

"Bowman was good for two innings," Bell said.  "He's had success.  In this division, we know what he can do.  The big thing with Matt is staying healthy.  Which he know he can do.  He's just had some setbacks over the last two years.  When he's healthy, he can pitch.  He's shown he can do it at the Major League level.  He was a guy we counted on in big situations in St. Louis."

The Reds jumped to a lead when Scott Schebler doubled and scored on a double by Kyle Farmer.

Matt Wisler replaced Bowman and gave up three runs in 1 2/3 innings. It broke a string of seven straight appearances without allowing a run.  The Mariners got the benefit of some outfield miscues.  Schebler bobbled a ball he charged with the idea of throwing out Jake Fraley at the plate on a single by Jarred Kelenic.  Fraley scored and Kelenic took third.  It became academic when Chris Mariscal homered.

"Wisler's had such a good spring.  Maybe he wasn't as sharp as he's been," Bell said. "He allowed a few runs, he's allowed that."

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The Reds got two back to tie the score when Blake Trahan walked and Courtney Hawkins hit his third home run in four games.  Hawkins will play in the minor leagues.  He was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the first round (12th overall) in the 2012 draft.

Ian Krol, who is trying to stick in the Reds bullpen as a non-roster player, was the victim of a misplayed line drive that got past Phil Ervin for a double in right that allowed Joe Odom score from first on Donovan Walton's sinking liner.  Evan White singled to score Walton.

David Hernandez gave up a run on another outfield fumble and a ball that got past Trahan.

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"David Hernandez looked probably as good as he had all spring," Bell said. "He had a good fastball tonight which was a good sign."

Jesse Winker, who has found hits scarce this spring was 0-for-3 with a walk.  Derek Dietrich tripled over the head of center fielder Kyle Lewis.  Jose Iglesias was 0-for-3.  Farmer was 1-for-3.

Those three players are competing for bench roles.  The Reds cleared a roster spot for a non-roster player like Dietrich and Iglesias when they traded Rule V pick, Connor Joe, to the Giants for minor league right-hander Jordan Johnson.

Anthony Bass pitched a scoreless inning. He is a right-hander competing for a bullpen roster spot as a non-roster player.

Sal Romano pitched a scoreless eighth.

"Sal Romano had a good night.  There were a lot of good things on the pitching side," Bell said.

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