FanPost

Here's looking at Choo (McCarthy vs. Cueto)

BubbaFan!

Scottsdale, AZ (March 4, 2013) - The Reds faced the Diamondbacks at their spring training park, Salt River Fields at Talking Stick.

Johnny Cueto on the mound.

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Brandon McCarthy seems to be recovered from that line drive to the head that put him in the hospital for emergency brain surgery last year.

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He pitched three innings, struck out five, walked none, and gave up just one hit: a home run to Zack Cozart in the first.

The Diamondbacks got the run back in the bottom of the inning. Adam Eaton singled, then tried to steal second.

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It looked like Cozart had him.

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The crowd roared (well, the Reds fans along the first base line, anyway).

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He was out...but he was safe. The pitch was a ball, and the batter walked.

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Eaton would steal third (on a double steal), then score on a fielder's choice. Cueto tried to throw him out at home, but it was not in time. He was so dismayed at not getting the runner in time he lay on the grass like he was dead.

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He was fine, though. He was perfect the next two innings. His line for the day: 3 innings pitched, 1 hit, 1 run, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts.

Cueto smiles as he heads to the locker room.

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Sean Marshall holds the runner on in the fourth.

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Zack Cozart throws the ball back in after fielding a pop up.

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Things did not go as smoothly for Cozart in the fifth. He got an error when he tried to field a grounder and it stayed on the ground, not in his glove.

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That would prove costly, as the next batter, Aaron Hill, singled, allowing that speedster, Wil Nieves, to score from second.

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Chad Pennington singled. Cesar Izturis did a great job just to get to it, but his throw pulled Cozart off the bag and Aaron Hill was safe at second.

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The pitcher, Manny Parra, demonstrates his pickoff move. He must get a lot of practice.

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He was eventually bailed out when Jack Hannahan and Neftali Soto turned a nice double play.

Woo! Shin-Soo Choo pinch hit in the sixth. My first look at the new center fielder.

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He put good wood on the ball.

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It was a very high fly ball. Left fielder Alfredo Marte had plenty of time to get there.

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Choo heads back to the locker room after his sole at-bat.

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He took Chris Heisey with him.

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Corky Miller tries to block the plate in the 7th.

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Rossmel Perez is ruled safe.

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Corky was unhappy with the call, and had some irate words with the umpire.

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He took it out on the baseball in the 8th, hitting a hard line drive to center.

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Daniel Corcino pitched the 9th.

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After the game, Miguel Cairo stopped to sign for fans along the rail.

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Final score: Reds 2, Diamondbacks 7.