Nick Martinez Has Good First Outing In Reds' Loss To San Francisco

Dateline: 318 kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico

Nick Martinez pitched two scoreless innings in his first spring outing.  The right hander is penciled into the starting rotation and relishes the role.

Manager Terry Francona said the Martinez was a Reds' starter.

"I have always come into camp as a starter. I like the prep work as a starter," Martinez said. "This may be the earliest in camp to be penciled in as a starter,"

"We've never had that specific conversation, but I come in every year to prepare as a starter," Maritnez said.

After the game Francona said it was too early to name the rotation but Martinez went a long way to securing a spot with two innings, allowing two hits and striking out three all in the first inning. He threw 14 pitches, all strikes.

"I work really hard at my command and throwing the ball over the plate," Martinez said. "I used my whole repertoire today."

While backing off naming anyone as a starter after just two Cactus League games, Francona had high praise for Martinez.

"He's a pro. He's a pros' pro. He does...I told him the other day. I watched him warm up. I watched him face hitters. It was a clinic. He held runners and gave the catcher a chance to get out of an inning. When you do those things. it gives you so much of an advantage. It takes a weapon from the other team. I think he's walked three percent of the batters he's faced."

The Reds lost to the Giants 5-2, 

The Giants got a home run from Patrick Bailey off Jose Acuna. They scored two runs off Zach Maxwell and an unearned run of Reiver Sanmartin.

Offensively for the Reds, Cam Collier hit a double. Santiago Espinal hit a triple and scored on a balk. Reece Hinds tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Noelvi Marte.