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Bronson Arroyo didn’t fare as well in his second start of the Spring for the Cincinnati Reds. Arroyo allowed 4 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks over 2 innings. He struck out just one batter.

The offense continues to produce runs, as they were up to the task of recovering from Arroyo’s deficit. Todd Frazier homered in the 2nd inning, and Zach Cozart doubled in a couple in the third to bring the team within 1.

The team took the lead in the top of the 7th, only to have Carlos Fisher blow it in the bottom of the 7th by allowing 3 runs.

Sean Marshall turned in a better outing than his previous ones, which is a good sign. Marshall pitched a perfect 4th, striking out 2.

As for Arroyo, I didn’t see any reports on his velocity, so that’s still a concern. Obviously, the overall results weren’t good, but he did manage to strikeout a batter this time. Of all the starters, I think Arroyo is the one who will need to be watched most closely during Spring Training. We don’t want Badrroyo again.

Boxscore

The unthinkable has happened. Mat Latos, the off-season acquisition that cost so much, has started a game, yet the Cincinnati Reds lost.

Not only that, but their chance at an undefeated Spring Training–and the coveted Cactus Cup trophy–has been crushed. The regular season may as well be forfeited. And Joey Votto should be traded away for nothing.

Okay.

Now that that nonsense about taking Spring Training results at all seriously is out of the way, let’s look at the game. Latos did start in the game against the Mariners, pitching two scoreless innings. Like many elite pitchers, he was a little off in the first, allowing two hits and a walk, but his second inning was perfect.

The pitchers that followed him, not so much. Brett Tomko fared the worst, allowing 5 runs in his inning. Two other relievers who are long-shots for making the Opening Day roster–Nick Christiani and Andrew Brackman–also allowed runs.

The offense continued to produce runs, though. Denis Phipps hit a three-run home run, and Donald Lutz added a solo shot. But it wasn’t enough to give the Reds a meaningless win. But it did give the players practice.

The next game will be back at Goodyear, when the Reds host the San Diego Padres at 3:05pm EST. Bronson Arroyo will make his Spring debut.

Boxscore

It’s a tie!

The Cincinnati Reds started the 2012 baseball season in an inauspicious way, tying the Cleveland Indians 6-6 in a regulation 9-inning game Saturday.

Mike Leake started for the Reds, and allowed 2 runs–1 earned–in his two innings of work. Ron Mahay took over for the 3rd inning and allowed 2 more, putting the Reds down 4-0 early. But after that, what is most certainly a very improved bullpen from 2011, held the Indians scoreless and gave the offense time to come back.

The Reds tied it in the 4th, scoring 4 runs. Joey Votto lead things off with a double. Jay Bruce drove him in with a double. A few hits later, Drew Stubbs tied the game with another double. Upcoming first-baseman Neftali Soto (Yonder Alonso who?) gave the team the lead with a solo shot in the 5th.

Cincinnati was leading until the excellent bullpen work failed in the 9th. Someone who won’t be on the major league roster with the name of Kanekoa Texeira blew it. But thanks to Todd Frazier’s solo shot in the bottom of the 9th, the game ended in a very Spring Training like tie.

The Reds play the Indians again Sunday at 3:05pm.

Boxscore

As has been well documented, Dontrelle Willis has been searching for a win for a long time.

And in his last start for the Cincinnati Reds in the 2011 season, he finally got it, with very little thanks to closer Francisco Cordero.

Willis turned in his customary 6 innings, 3 runs start, and this time it was enough.

The Reds scoring started in the 1st, when Jay Bruce drove in Brandon Phillips. In the 2nd, Devin Mesoraco drove in Juan Francisco. And then Paul Janish sacrificed a fly to plate Mesoraco.

Willis struggled in the bottom of the 2nd, allowing the Pittsburgh Pirates to tie it 3-3, but he soon took matters into his own hands. In the 6th, Mesoraco singled. Janish doubled. And Willis added his own double to bring both runners in, making it 5-3.

Cordero was brought in to close out the game in the 9th. Like so many previous times, the bullpen allowed some runs. Cordero allowed a run-scoring double to Neil Walker, and with a runner on second base, it looked like Willis’ win was in jeopardy. But Cordero was able to strike out the final two batters to end the game.

The win makes Willis’ record 1-6 on the season, over 13 starts.

Boxscore

Saturday night’s game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Milwaukee Brewers was unfortunately a bit of a snoozer. The Reds lost 10-1, with the only offense being a solo shot from Yonder Alonso.

The game was fun, though, despite that, with some great tweeting going on via all the Reds Tweetup guests. You can view the tweets here.

Before the event was also the unveiling of the new Johnny Bench statue. Bench spoke to the crowd before the game.

After that, Edinson Volquez took to the mound. He started well, but was probably left in too long and fell apart in the 7th. (No thanks to his bullpen, who allowed all inherited runners to score.)

The Reds’ batters had no luck either, aside from Alonso. The heart of the lineup was quiet, with Joey Votto and Jay Bruce combining for zero hits.

Yovani Gallardo was on his game for the Brewers, and the game was effectively over when Volquez and the bullpen imploded.

Volquez got the loss and Gallardo took the victory. It was a far cry from last September’s Tweetup, when the Reds clinched the division. And from the last Johnny Bench night, when Bench homered to lead the Reds to a win. Sadly, there were no fireworks from Reds catchers tonight.

Still, it was a fun event, and I’m looking forward to next year’s.