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Dateline: 318 kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico
Hunter Greene is the first Reds’ pitcher to complete four innings.
He did it in an eventual 5-3 loss to the Texas Rangers. The Reds were facing old friend Tyler Mahle and Tucker Barnhart but reunions are secondary to the sterling outing Greene had.
Greene allowed seven runs in four innings in starts against Cleveland and Oakland.
Against Texas he allowed no runs and two hits and a walk, while striking out six batters.
Returning from the flu bug that has circulated among baseball clubhouses this spring, Greene felt strong.
“I was able to make some good strides from last game,” Greene said. “That’s the goal in spring to make sure that every game gets better and better. You can't always control that but if the mind set’s there, I think you will find yourself in a good position. I feel like I’m in a better place than any other time in spring training. I’m able to lock in more on the mind set competitive wise, especially in the last few starts before we leave. I’m learning more about myself. I’m maturing. I’m learning from prior mistakes and struggles. I worked extremely hard this off season and my body is in a great place. I’m recovering extremely well. I could have gone out for another inning. So to feel that way this early in spring is fantastic.”
Francona was impressed with Greene’s outing.
“Outstanding,” Francona said. “Four really good innings. He had power to all his pitches. He threw strikes. He gave the catcher a chance to throw out the runner on the steal. He was really, really good. We weren’t going to send him out for the fourth. We had to send him out because he hadn’t thrown enough pitches. That’s a good thing.”
Connor Phillips, who struggled with his control last season, was wild following Greene to the mound. He walked four batters to force in a run. Manager Terry Francona brought in Simon Miller. Nick Ahmed hit a grand slam to put the Rangers ahead to stay.
Scott Barlow, Zach Maxwell and Albert Abreu pitched scoreless inning leading up the the first professional inning for Chase Burns, the Reds top pick in the 2024 draft.
Burns took over in the ninth for his planned first professional inning.
He struck out Brandon Martorano, the first batter he faced. Alex De Goti, who ran on a foul ball by Alan Trejo, who struck out swinging. He struck out Marcus Smith with De Goti running. Will Banfield’s throw was in plenty of time but wasn’t needed.
Francona said that when these young guys pitch in the big leagues no one will remember it regardless of how it goes.
“It’s always cool,” Francona said. “For us it’s kinda,it's coming into the middle of spring training. Guys are getting a little heavy legs and this kid comes out. His heart is probably racing. He threw the ball very, very well. I didn’t have any words of advice for him. I didn’t want to scare him.”
Burns held the ball while De Goti a little longer than normal. A veteran’s trick learned over time.
“You know what sometimes with kids that are coming out of some of these college programs they’re getting taught how to do those things. Like Tanner Bibee in Cleveland, part of the reason he got so successful so quick is because he threw strikes and controlled the running game. You had to beat him. This kid (Burns) has exceptional stuff.”
Hitting:
Santiago Espinal hit a double. He has hit safely in four straight games through March 5 and six of the seven, he’s played in that period. Jacob Hurtubise had a hit to raise his average to .563. Gavin Lux doubled and walked in three plate appearances. Reece Hinds tripled in two at bats.
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