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.

The deadline is approaching, and Joey Votto still hasn’t decided about playing for Canada in the World Baseball Classic.

“Not yet,” he said. “I’m still trying to get my legs under me.”

So far, Votto’s performance in Spring Training has been good, indicating his knee is doing better. In four games, he has a home run and four RBI. Oh, and his on-base percentage is an amazing .600.

Apparently, Team Canada is scheduled to play the Reds on March 7th. Assuming Votto does join the roster, he has decided about that game.

“I don’t want to play in that game (against the Reds) with Team Canada. I’d be torn.”

I empathize with his decision. He gets paid to play for the Reds every year, but the chance to represent his country in a world competition only comes a handful of times. I’d rather he didn’t participate, but I do trust him to keep himself healthy should he decide to do so.

It’s only Spring Training, but yesterday Joey Votto hit his first home run in a baseball game since June 24. That was two knee surgeries and one disappointing playoff appearance ago, in case you were counting.

The Cincinnati Enquirer’s video of the shot from the press box is below.

This is just great to see, and it has nothing to do with the Reds winning their first game of the Spring. Votto having his power back, along with his awesome everything else, makes this team so much more dangerous.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Reds	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Indians	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	-	3	8	0

Boxscore

The Reds wrapped up their first spring training series yesterday when they lost to the Indians. In fact, it’s been three losses in a row to the Indians to start off this training season, but yesterday’s was special in that the other two were slugfests in which the Reds just happened to be behind when the innings ran out. Still, with 20 runs scored in the first 3 games, the Reds aren’t looking too bad for offense so far, on average.

Sam LeCure started for the Reds and had a real nice showing in his 2.0 innings of action. He walked a guy, but otherwise didn’t allow a baserunner. Next up was Manny Parra, who had similar results in 2.0 innings of work, only minus the base on balls.

Jose Arredondo took over in the fifth and gave up a hit, which was just what Logan Ondrusek did in the sixth. So far so good.

Josh Ravin was the unlucky one in the seventh, and he took credit for all 3 of the Indians’ runs before he could log the third out in the inning. Drew Hayes came in to finish off the inning before J.J. Hoover closed her down in the eighth. He gave up 2 walks in the process.

Jason Donald notched the Reds’ only hit yesterday when he singled with one on and one out in the top of the sixth. Neftali Soto walked to load them up, but then Xavier Paul and Ryan LaMarre struck out to end the Reds’ threat.

Brandon Phillips, Donald, and Soto each contributed a walk to the team’s OBP, and, never to be outdone in matters of on-baseness, Joey Votto walked twice. Votto has only 3 official at-bats in the first 3 games of spring training and has gotten on base at a .800 clip.

The loss brings the Reds spring training record to 0-3. Today they take on the Brewers. Armando Galarraga faces off against Tyler Thornburg.