The Reds Bombed Cuba As They Prepare For The World Baseball Classic

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Dateline: Goodyear, Arizona

The Reds run-ruled the Cuban National Team with five doubles and three home run among 19 hits.

Cuban pitchers chipped in with five walks and two hit batters plus a balk, thrown in.

Rhett Lowder turned in three scoreless innings, on two hits. Tyler Stephenson gunned down Alexander Vargas, a Reds farm hand who joined Dayton from the Yankees, late last season. He played briefly with Lowder. He also caught Yiddi Cappe stealing after his third inning single.

"Rhett pitches mature," Terry Francona said. "I was really happy. They tried to run twice and he gave Stepho a chance. I thought Stepho's second throw was the best throw I've ever seen him make. In a game where it is maybe hard to distinguish some things. That was really good to see. We can't take credit for Rhett. The guys that drafted him did a really good job. We're the ones who get to tip our cap and talk about him but the player development guys did a really good job because he's beyond his years."

Lowder didn't know who was batting for Cuba. He didn't even notice Vargas was in the lineup. He just attacked hitters as he always has.

"I thought it went well. I got the ball on the ground, sinker slider to righties. There were a couple of two strike pitches I could have executed a little bit better," Lowder said. "I'm getting stronger each week."

"I didn't even look who was in the lineup, I'll be honest. I executed my plan, lefty, righty, whoever was in the box," Lowder said. "It was cool for sure playing Cuba, for sure. It is going to be fun to watch the Classic."

The Reds scored two runs off Julio Robaina when TJ Friedl's fly to left field was lost in the sun by Major League veteran Alexei Ramirez, a 45-year old, lost the ball in the high Arizona sky.

It was Friedl's second double in two innings. 

Sal Stewart doubled into the right field corner to leadoff the third inning. He scored on a double by Spencer Steer that bounced over Yoan Moncada's head into left field against Josimar Cousin. Noelvi Marte launched a three-run home run after Dane Myers walked.

Randy Martinez was the next victim. 

Matt McLain continued to hit with a single off Martinez. Elly De La Cruz walked and Sal Stewart hit a long home run to the opposite field for three runs.

Stephenson singled against Luis Romero, went to third on Marte's double and third hit of the day. Ke'Bryan Hayes sacrifice fly brought home a run.

The Reds starters left but the second group hit Cuba just as hard.

JJ Bleday singled and scored on Nathaniel Lowe's double off Osiel Rodriguez.

Will Benson and Blake Dunn added single in a scoreless seventh.

The Reds put the "Mercy Rule" in effect with eight runs in the top of the eighth. For some unexplained reason Cuba was the home team.

Lowe walked. Garrett Hampson doubled, and Rece Hinds walked. Dunn was hit by a pitch. Leo Balcazar singled. Michael Trautwin was hit by a pitch. Will Benson singled two runs home. Bleday capped the scoring with a home run.

Reds pitchers were good too.

Graham Ashcraft gave up two runs on two hits and a walk.

Brock Burke, Anthony Misiewicz, Luis Mey and Chase Petty pitched scoreless innings. Chase Petty allowed a hit and struck out one in a scoreless inning.

"Petty was fine," Francona said. "I wish we could have played that second inning but they have these rules in place. Getting him another inning would have really helped."

Reds pitchers allowed just five hits and one walk. They struck out eight.