Reds Come Back To Hang A 5-4 Loss On Their Division Foe

 

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Dateline: 318 kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico

Nick Lodolo made his second spring start on March 3 against defending National League Central champions the Milwaukee Brewers.

Caleb Durbin hit a home run on the first pitch. Vinny Capra hit his fourth Cactus League home run on Lodolo’s sixth pitch of the game on a 3-1 count.

Lodolo retired the next seven batters until Durbin singled and Capra walked then pulled a double steal. Lodolo retired the last two hitters on ground out. Manuel Margot’s ground out scored Durbin.

“Outside of the first two swings, I felt good about it,” Lodolo said. “I accomplished 50 pitches, three innings. I felt way better than I did last time out. I was in rhythm. The first two swings even though it’s spring training, you don’t want it to happen because you’re still competing but the first seven pitches were heaters away. I’m never going to do that during the season. I’m going to build on this and try to refine some things.”

Francona backed him up.

“You know he really didn’t get to settle into the game and it’s whack, whack,” Francona said. “He was really trying to establish his breaking ball and he did. He got to three innings which is good also.”

The offense:

TJ Friedl had two hits. Elly De La Cruz was on base for all three plate appearances. He singled and walked twice.

The Reds scored the winning run when Jacob Huturbise walked and stole three bases, stealing home on the back end of a double steal.

The Reds had some base running mishaps in the sixth inning. Carlos Jorge was thrown out at second but the home plate umpire ruled that Brewer pitcher, lefty Tyler Alexander balked. He later picked off Rece Hinds and Blake Dunn

“I think there were three balks in that inning,” Francona said. “The game was on TV so I can look at the video to see. It is spring training for everybody (umpires included) but I think there were three balks.”

Alexis Diaz has not seen action in a Cactus League game yet,

“About 10 days ago, he slipped in PFP (pitcher fielding practice),”Francona said. “We were slow playing it but we sent him for an MRI because he said that it doesn’t hurt. But again we don’t want guys altering their delivery and things like that, He has an abnormality in both legs, a tendon he doesn’t need, that’s the best way I can explain it. They took it out of one leg. for his “Tommy John”. He’s fine. He’s been raring to go. We just want to keep an eye on it.”

Diaz threw a live BP on March 2nd. He will pitch again soon.

“I don’t know if he’s going to face hitters one more time or get in a game. He is doing agility,” Francona said.

Emilio Pagan and Hunter Green are out sick with a virus going around.

“We've been kind of fortunate,” Francona said. “We went over to the Angels the other day. They had six guys out. We’ve had one or two. Abbott was there. It’s been going around.”