Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Reds (2-11)	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	1	1	4	10	0
Angels (2-8)	0	0	0	1	0	0	5	0	-	6	12	0

Boxscore

The Cincinnati Reds dropped their seventh game in a row yesterday, losing 6-4 to the Angels. However, just like the points in Who’s Line is it Anyway?, the losses don’t matter.

What can matter is the results of the players. Since the Reds have pretty much no competition for any of their starting roster spots, the players can actually take the time to focus on practicing and getting ready for the season. It makes for a different kind of spring training as a Reds fan.

So what were the results? Mike Leake started the game and had three strong innings, allowing no runs, four hits, and striking out 2. Aroldis Chapman followed him, and gave up a home run to the first batter he faced. That was the only run he allowed in his two innings of work.

The reason the Reds lost was due to the usage of young prospect Josh Ravin, who allowed five runs in his 1/3 inning of work. Again, another example that the Reds can treat spring training differently than in the 2000s. Here they’re letting a prospect pitch against some talent at a higher level than him, ostensibly in the hopes it can spur Ravin to realize how much harder he needs to work to compete in the majors.

As for the offense, the bats finally woke up, thanks to Jay Bruce. He hit two home runs, both solo shots, which had the Reds leading until Ravin’s appearance in the 7th. The offense tried to come back, but the two runs in the 8th and 9th just weren’t enough.

Today the Reds will play Team Canada. Mat Latos will start for the Reds, while the Canadians send out Mark Hardy. Game time is 9:05pm.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Reds (2-10)	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	2	6	3
Diamondbacks (5-5)	1	0	0	0	2	0	4	0	-	7	9	0

Boxscore

The Cincinnati Reds continued their losing ways yesterday, dropping their 10th Spring Training game to the Arizona Diamondbacks 7-2.

Johnny Cueto started and pitched well. Over three innings, he allowed one run on one hit and struck out four.

Overall, the pitching wasn’t as bad as the 7-spot makes it look. The defense committed 3 errors, contributing to 4 unearned runs. Manny Parra and Clay Hensley took the brunt of that in their relief appearances, combining to give up 6 runs, only 2 of which were earned.

As for the scoring, the Reds took an early lead, thanks to a Zack Cozart solo home run in the first. The offense was largely silent until the seventh, when Henry Rodriguez knocked in a run.

The real excitement, though, came before the game began. Dusty Baker and Kirk Gibson, the Diamondbacks manager, had a disagreement about the usage of the designated hitter.

“He wanted his pitcher to hit and I wanted Choo to DH,” Baker said following a 7-2 Reds loss. “They sent over word that’s what they wanted to do. It would have been fine with me to do both. It’s up to the home team of what they want to do. Usually here we let teams DH early.”

Apparently, Gibson wasn’t having any of that. It was National League rules all the way.

At the exchange of lineup cards, there were some words between the two managers. Gibson offered to shake hands, but Baker refused.

“We didn’t have a very pleasant encounter at home plate,” Baker said. “That’s how it goes. It’s over.”

The result? Choo didn’t start and Cesar Izturis was moved to the leaf-off position. Cueto batted in the third inning, but struck out looking because he was forbidden to swing the bat.

Such drama for a Spring Training game.

Today, the Reds will play the Angels at 3:05pm EST.

The Cincinnati Reds played two games yesterday, allowing both Aroldis Chapman and Mike Leake to start on the same day.

The comparisons between the two will be constant throughout the Spring, as both are vying for the 5th starter’s slot. With Leake, we have a good idea what he brings to the table: a solid, average starter with the potential for a little more. With Chapman, we know how he did as a lights-out closer last year, but no one knows how the conversion to a starter will affect him.

If yesterday’s results are any indication, it could go very well. Chapman pitched two perfect innings. That’s no runs, hits, and no walks. He struck out one.

As is common in the beginning of Spring Training, Chapman threw mostly off-speed pitches.

“I feel I could locate the pitches where I want,” he said. “The results, you saw what happened. The results were good. I was really happy.”

I think everyone is, except maybe manager Dusty Baker, who’s likely to lose his favorite closer.

As for Leake, he was, well, average. In two innings, he allowed one run. But in a somewhat uncharacteristic fashion, he struck out three.

I’m rooting for Chapman to succeed as a starter. But having Leake as insurance is a very nice policy.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Reds (2-4)	0	1	0	0	0	6	1	1	5	14	16	2
Diamondbacks (2-3)	3	1	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	6	8	0

Boxscore

The Cincinnati Reds rode two big innings to a win yesterday, but that wasn’t the real story. No, that belonged to Johnny Cueto, who pitched for the first time since straining an oblique in the first game of the playoffs last year.

Cueto’s outing wasn’t awesome, but he reported no pain from his injury. His final line was 2 innings, 4 runs (2 earned), 1 walk, and 1 strikeout. It’s very nice to see him back on the mound again.

The Diamondbacks’ lead vanished quickly in the 6th. The Reds scored a total of 6 runs. Kris Negron hit a triple to drive in a run. Joey Votto singled in a run. Donald Lutz doubled to drive in 2 more. And Henry Rodriguez finished the scoring with the final RBI.

The Reds scored more runs later in the game, putting it further out of reach.

Today the Reds will split up their squad. One group will travel to play against the Colorado Rockies at 3:10 pm, while the other group will stay in Goodyear to host the Diamondbacks. Aroldis Chapman starts against the Rockies, while Mike Leake starts against Arizona.