Adam Dunn has one more game to push his spring average over the .200 mark but the low batting average didn’t stop him from belting homerun number four in the Reds 6-3 win over Tampa Bay.  Jeff Keppinger had a team high three hits while David Ross had two hits and two runs.

The Reds gave their relievers some work today as eight pitchers all saw time in this one.  David Weathers gave up a run in his two innings but he’s had a decent spring and I like him as a setup man a lot more then I like having to rely on him as the team’s closer.  Jeremy Affeldt picked up the win with 1 1/3 innings of relief and I like him in the pen too.  Not that it’s saying much, but this could be the best Reds bullpen in the several years.

Johnny Cueto gets the start tomorrow in the Reds final spring game.  Then they count baby.

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It’s official.  Homer Bailey has joined Jay Bruce as top prospects cut by Dusty Baker.  It’ll be hard to keep Bailey down if he dominates the International League in these first couple of months.  Still, after a mediocre and injury filled 2007 and a tough spring, you have to hope this minor league stint puts Bailey back on track.

Aaron Harang threw six innings and he gave up three runs but those runs didn’t come until that final inning in the Reds 6-3 loss to the Blue Jays.  Bill Bray was knocked around for three runs while Jeremy Affeldt threw a shutout ninth to close the game out.

Andy Phillips singled and drove in two runs in the loss.  The Reds managed just five hits and all were singles.  Hopefully they can hit the ball better tomorrow against the Twins.  Bronson Arroyo will get the start.

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It looks more and more like Edinson Volquez is going to start the season in the Reds rotation this year.  He gave up just a single run on five hits and a walk with five strikeouts in five very solid frames.  Don’t feel bad for Homer.  He’ll be back and he’s still going to turn out to be a stud on the mound. Francisco Cordero had a tough time in his inning of relief though.  He gave up two runs on three hits and a walk.

Adam Dunn walked three times while Corey Patterson doubled, drew a walk and scored twice.  Brandon Phillips singled twice, scored a run and drove in one.

Less then a week until the games really count.  Aaron Harang gets the start tomorrow in his final tune up before the Reds opener on Monday.  It’s a road game against the Jays.

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Adam Dunn is still below the Mendoza line this spring, but he picked it up a bit today with a single and two RBIs.  Ken Griffey, Jr. was the hitting star though.  He went two for two with a double, two walks, two RBIs and two runs.  Edwin Encarnacion had the tough luck game with a trio of strikeouts in the 6-5 loss.

Bronson Arroyo lasted his six innings and while he didn’t take the loss, it was all pretty.  He gave up four runs (three earned) on six hits and two walks with three strikeouts.  Mike Lincoln took the look the loss when he gave up a pair of runs in the seventh inning.

Johnny Cueto gets the Easter start.  It’s funny how he’s pretty much a lock to make the rotation while Homer Bailey appears destined for Louisville.  It’s amazing how much difference a year could make.  Of course by May, things could be flipped back around.

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Alright, it’s a win and against a divisional rival.  Aaron Harang looked very sharp with six shutout innings in which he gave up just four hits with five strikeouts.  Francisco Cordero threw a shutout ninth as he continued a solid spring.

Ken Griffey, Jr. went two for three with a run in the 5-1 win.  Brandon Phillips doubled, drove in two and scored a run while Javier Valentin singled and drove in two runs.

Bronson Arroyo gets the start tomorrow.  It’s a day game against the Rays.

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It’s still not a definite that Homer Bailey will be joining Jay Bruce in Louisville to start the season.  He threw four solid innings today in which he gave up just one run on three hits and two walks.  Oddly, he didn’t strike out a single batter.  Edinson Volquez continues to look sharp with two shutout innings while Jared Burton was roughed up for three runs in his single frame.

A Bruceless Reds lineup looked pretty pathetic today.  They managed just five singles, one of which was by the roadblock, Corey Patterson.  And yes, I’m bitter that Patterson is having such a good spring.  Dusty will bat him leadoff, he’ll have like a .300 OBP and then everyone will wonder why the Reds can’t get over the hump.

Adam Dunn continues his struggles. He struck out twice and his spring batting average is now down to .188.  Even worse, he left five batters on base.

Tomorrow, it’ll be the Pirates.  Oddly, the Reds have three spring games left against the Rays.  None of them are on MLB.TV. 

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The Reds dealt relief pitcher Brad Salmon to the Royals for either a player to be named later or some moohla.  Salmon was okay in 23 games last year for the Reds and odds are, he wouldn’t have made the team.  He was able to strikeout 22 batters in 24 innings but an odd stat is, when Salmon pitched in a game for the Reds, the Reds went 3-23.  That’s more indicative of the games he was getting into then his actual ability though.

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This was a tough one.  Edinson Volquez continued to shine with six strikeouts in five shutout innings and the Reds had a 2-0 lead in the sixth inning.  From there, it went downhill.  Gary Majewski gave up three runs (to his credit, all three were unearned) while Brad Salmon was tagged for three runs in the ninth.

Ken Griffey, Jr. had a nice game with two hits and two RBIs it’s just too bad those were the lone Reds run in the 6-2 loss.  All the Reds offense could muster was six singles with just one walk.

Tomorrow, the Reds take on the Tigers.  Johnny Cueto gets the start in the afternoon affair.

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The Reds finished 1-0-1 today.  They tied the Yankees, but Josh Fogg threw five shutout innings in a Reds 5-0 win over the Pirates.  He gave up just a trio of hits with a walk and three strikeouts.  Brad Salmon struck out the side in an impressive seventh inning.

Jay Bruce picked up two more hits and he started the game in right field.  Ryan Freel singled twice and scored a run while all thirteen of the Reds hits were singles.

Homer Bailey gets the start tomorrow against the Red Sox.  Jon Lester gets the call for the Red Sox.

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The Reds didn’t have many highlights tonight against the Yankees.  They were shutout, Homer Bailey was touched up, and oh yeah, they lost.  Edinson Volquez was the lone bright spot though.  He threw four innings and while he gave up two runs, he struck out eight batters.  Bailey was touched up for two runs and he didn’t even last through the third inning.

Jay Bruce continued to hit the ball and while he was picked off of first base, he was the only Red with two hits.   Six hits and a walk isn’t going to cut it and that’s all the Reds got in this one.

Aaron Harang and Matt Maloney each get a start tomorrow as the Reds split things up.  It’ll be a home game against the Astros and a road game against the Tigers.

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