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Dateline: Goodyear, Arizona
Rhett Lowder lasted 3 2/3 innings just short of his four inning goal. He got his pitch count up to 76 because he walked four batters.
Lowder was charged with an unearned run when he made two errors on pick off attempts. JJ Bleday also committed a base advancement error in the inning.
"He (Lowder) got his pitch count up. That was real good," Terry Francona said. "We had guys up early. People ask me about a six man rotation. That's the best example why we don't do it. If it is in the middle of the season and you don't finish six innings, it just doesn't work. I think he's fine. He just didn't locate, like he needed to."
Lowder allowed four singles and struck out four which contributed to his pitch count. He left the game with a runner on first and one out, striking out the last batter he faced, Jose Herrera. Minor League pitcher Jonah Hurney walked two to load the bases. The second run charged to Lowder scored on a force play.
"It was a grind from the jump. I never got into the flow," Lowder said. "Nothing is easy but it was good to work with traffic. There are things I should have done better. They are not all going to be easy, there will be days when you have to manage traffic. You have to pitch with guys on. Stuff is going to happen. Hits are going to fall. You're going to have to deal with it. It is good to get some traffic, now."
After a year in which he didn't pitch much due to various injuries, Lowder is getting ready for the season.
"I feel good. The pitch count got up there today. I wish I could have got another up but pitch count is probably more important anyway. I feel good. I feel strong," Lowder said.
The 24-year old needs more repetitions with pick offs and more focus to avoid walks.
"The second pick off I should have probably eaten it. The first was just a bad throw," Lowder said. "The walks were a lack of focus to be honest."
Emilio Pagan pitched a perfect inning. Tony Santillan allowed a run on three hits and struck out one. Sam Moll had a clean inning with two strikeouts. Tejay Antone allowed one hit in a scoreless inning.
Offensively, the Reds lone run scored on Jose Trevino's home run off Austin Gomber leading off the fourth inning. It was his second home run of the spring. He also his a double. TJ Friedl had a bunt single. Rece Hinds and JJ Bleday hit singles.
The Reds trailed 3-1 going into the bottom of the eighth. Alfredo Alcantara hit a double facing Tyler Alexander pitching in his fourth inning. Carlos Jorge tripled off the left hander. Michael Toglia put the Reds in front 4-3 with a home run.
Darren McCaughan finished the game in the 4-3 win with a scoreless ninth.
Carlos Jorge caught the attention of Reds' management this spring. The 22-year old from Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic was signed as a 17-year old on January 15, 2021. He hit .251 in 110 games at Dayton last season.
"He has been a spark plug. We were talking about this this morning. Every time he comes up here. He does something. He's been fun to watch," Francona said.
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