Dateline: 318 Kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico
March 11 and the Reds’ fourth starter put down the Colorado Rockies that turned out to be an 8-5 win.
Singer pitched four strong innings to cement his spot in the starting rotation.
He pitched four scoreless innings, allowing a hit and a walk with seven strikeouts. Singer allowed a runner to third with two outs in the third inning and kept him from scoring.
“It felt good,” said Singer, who credited catcher Tyler Stephenson for calling the pitches to plan. “Stepho was on the money. He was great the whole entire time. He had a great plan and I just executed the pitches. The sinker was working really well today. It was a good part of the day, just pounding the zone. I was using the four seam up and everything was working today.”
One at bat that stood out was Keston Hiura, leading off the second inning. Singer almost struck him out on a checked swing. His next pitch induced a weak pop out to first base.
“The sinker had some late movement so I was able to throw it inside to right handers. I got a pop out to first on that one.”
Manager Terry Francona in the pre-game isn’t worried about results. He just wants Singer to throw the ball well.
“We love the kid. If he had a 10 ERA, as long as the ball is coming out (of his hand right). We love his professionalism. He takes his craft very seriously. We’re thrilled he’s here. We think he’ll be really good.”
“He (Singer) attacked the zone. He was really good. The one inning with the runner on third and he got the strikeout. That was really good,” Francona said.
The Reds scored their first run off Kyle Freeland, using their legs. Elly De La Cruz beat out a roller to third. Austin Hays was hit by a pitch. The pair pulled off a double steal. Catcher Drew Romo threw to second and De La Cruz continued home.
“They say when you come to a game, you may see something you’ve never seen before. I’ve never seen that,” said Francona, who played in 707 major league games and managed 3,622 more. “When he left third, I’m like no,no,no, good play. I mean, that’s as athletic and instinctual as you’re ever going to see. My goodness sakes. That was incredible. His tools, the things he can do, it’s kinda silly. And his willingness, he kept his head up. Everybody sees the physical stuff but if he doesn’t keep his head up and knows where the ball is, that doesn’t happen.”
Bryan Shaw pitched a scoreless inning even though he walked two and allowed a hit. A pretty 3-6-1 double play bailed him out. Christian Encarnacion-Strand fielded the ball and threw a strike to De La Cruz, who got the ball to Shaw in enough time that Shaw could search for the bag with his foot.
Emilio Pagan struck out two in a perfect inning. Sam Moll had a tough inning, allowing three hits, including a three-run, home run to Zac Veen. Ian Gibaut allowed three hits and a solo home run to Yanquiel Fernandez.
Hitting:
Matt McLain hit a double in three at bats. Encarnacion-Strand stroked an RBI single. De La Cruz left the game hitting .500 for the spring. Austin Hays hit a triple. Jacob Hurtubise hit a triple that tied the game at five. A group of Single A players completed a five-run eighth inning rally. Will Benson legged out an infield hit that scored a run. Blake Dunn had a single.
Dominick Pitelli hit a home run in the eighth off hard throwing Seth Halvorsen, who pitched in 12 games for the Rockies last season. Ariel Almonte hit a run-scoring double in the eighth.
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