Hunter Greene Handles Adversity In His Last Tuneup

 

 

 

 

When Hunter Greene was holding court with writers after being named to the starting lineup.  He mentioned that there was going to go through adversity and he had to learn to grow from it.

Greene has that opportunity after the Chicago White Sox hit him pretty hard on Thursday night in a 8-2 win over the Reds.

Yasmani Grandal after Jonathan India misplayed a ball hit by Yoan Moncada with two outs in the first inning.  That was bad luck but the second inning was not good for Greene.

Gavin Sheets blasted a home run leading off the inning.  Greene struck out former Princeton High and UC start Josh Harrison.  Loveland High and U of L grad walked and trouble followed.  Adam Haseley singled. Tim Anderson singled.  Luis Robert doubled.  Moncada delivered a sac fly and the Sox scored five more runs. 

"A little different outcome," Greene said.  "It is definitely not the first time it's happened. It won't be the last.  It's the game, like everybody says, it's a failing sport.  There's positives that I took out of tonight.  DJ and I talked about it.  I feel like I'm in a good place.  Obviously, they have a solid lineup.  It will be a different outcome next time."

When David Bell and the coaching staff deemed him ready on Tuesday night, handling failure is one of the criteria for being ready to pitch in the big leagues.  This was an example.

The 22-year old seemed to take the pounding in stride.

"In my mind a player is ready when they can handle the game, not so much the successes but the failures," Bell said.  "He has a lot of confidence."

Jonathan India was checked by trainers after the botched grounder but recovered to hit his third spring homer off Michael Kopech. 

MIke Moustakas doubled.  Tyler Stephenson continues to swing the bat well with a single in three trips, hitting .364.  Max Schrock came off the bench to single twice and score a run.  He is hitting a red hot .611.

"Hunter was throwing the ball great.  This is a tough league," Bell said.  "This team can really hit.  If anything he just doubled up on the fastball a little bit too much.  At the same time when you're throwing 100, you tend to do that. I think it's good to get it out of the way.  He's got another start before the season.  He threw some good sliders.  There were times he pitched really good they just got to some of the fastballs."

"Max Schrock can really hit.  He's doing every thing he can to show he could be a big part of this team," Bell said.