Dateline: 318 kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico
Nick Lodolo made his first start of the spring. Matt McLain and Elly De La Cruz power Reds to 9-4 win over the Los Angeles Angels.
The big left hander battled non arm injuries the last two seasons, making only seven starts in 2023 and 21 last season. When healthy, he is one of the most effective Reds’ starters. When he tried to pitch with pain, he was well below par.
His first batter to face is Mike Trout. It doesn’t get much tougher for a pitcher than that.
“Lodolo had blisters, his foot. Some quirky things happened. I woke up excited today because of the good off season. He looks terrific and he will start his progression today.”
Lodolo walked Trout to start the game. Lodolo caught Trout stealing. He struck out Travis D’Arnaud but gave up a single to Taylor Ward on the first pitch. He walked Jorge Soler and Yaon Moncada, going to a three ball count on every hitter but Ward.
Francona took Lodolo out with two outs and the bases loaded. Minor Leaguer, Simon Miller got Ryan Noda to line out to right to end the inning.
Under spring training rules, Lodolo was allowed to return and pitched a scoreless inning.
“I was out of sync. I’m not happy with it but it was good to get out there again. I feel good. I feel strong,” Lodolo said.
Lodolo pitched 1 ⅔ innings, allowing one hit, three walks and struck out two.
“Every guy in the game struggled with the mound. They said it was different from the bullpen mound. O.K. but when the fourth guy in a row says the same thing. They were all struggling with it.”
“He seemed to adjust in the second inning. That was good to see. I cut him a little short so he could go out in the second and he did good,” Francona said.
Bryan Shaw pitched the third inning. He gave up a home run to Trout and walked D”Arnaud but struck out the last three batters he faced.
The bats:
For the second straight game a Reds hitter had three extra-base hits. This time Matt McLain doubled to open the game against Angel’s starter, Tyler Anderson, a left hander.
McLain doubled in the third inning against Anderson, then hit a long two-run home run in the fifth against right hander, Victor Mederos. He matched Austin Hays who hit two home runs and a double on Monday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. They tied Joey Votto from 2022 and Chris Dominguez from 2015 in Cactus League play.
Elly De La Cruz hit a double from the right side of the plate in the first inning to drive in McLain. De La Cruz ran it for a triple but was sent back to second because the ball bounced off the batter’s eye which is out of play. He hit his third home run of the spring off Mederos in the fifth.
In the first three games of the spring De La Cruz has is 5-for-8 with four extra base hits. Just as important, he hasn’t struck out.
Christian Encarnacion-Strand powered his first home run off Connor Bragdan. The starters left the game but the reserves continued to pound Angel pitching.
“We’ll take all the power displays. It’s fun to watch,” Francona said. “I give the kid (McLain) credit. He went to play in the Fall League. I’m not sure everybody does that. He played different positions because of the rules they have. Everybody was speculating that we were making a utility player out of him. We just needed him to play. He didn’t care where he played and was happy to do it. Sometimes good things happen to good people.”
“It is like getting a veteran player back. I know he doesn’t have a lot of service time but he’s a baseball player. He throws the ball to the right base. He knows how to play. Just look how much Elly (De La Cruz) is happy he’s here.”
Noelvi Marte hit a two-run triple. Jacob Hurtubise was 2-for-2 with a double.
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