:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46026758/usa-today-8069920.0.jpg)
The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game
Cincinnati Reds ace Johnny Cueto allowed all 3 runs scored by the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday, but whatever, he's Johnny Cueto, he's back with the team, and he's amazing. Cueto fanned 7 Arizona whiffers while allowing just 3 hits over his 5 IP, and on a day when the offense chose to get just a pair of hits and generally nap, that's good enough to take home the day's JNMHSotG.
(Notice, if you will, that I said "chose" to get just a pair of hits, since every Joey Votto Approach™ truther will tell you it's easy to simply choose which outcome you end up with as a batter as if the pitching and defense has no dictation ability, but I digress.)
Honorable Mentions are due to: Todd Frazier, who carried the offense on the day with a single and a walk; Ol' Kevin Gregg, who tossed a scoreless inning with a K and is 100% making the team; and Manny Parra, who continued his solid spring with a scoreless inning in relief that featured a pair of K's.
Key Plays
- All the damn things that damn happened damn happened in the Top of the 4th off Cueto, and it all began with a walk to David Peralta - that haunted - after a 2-0 pitch that Cueto thought was pretty clearly a strike was called a ball. Aaron Hill and Jake Lamb then followed with back to back singles to load the bases, before international Man of Mystery Yasmany Tomas laced a double to the wall in RF to clear the bases. That was it on the action front, and the Reds lost, 3-0.
- Skip Schumaker played RF for the bulk of the game, and he did so awfully. Why he's still on the roster is beyond me, aside from that hefty 2-year contract Walt doled out to him prior to 2014. I hope he at least makes some awesome clubhouse cheddar biscuits or knows more knock-knock jokes than anyone in Major League Baseball, or something. Anything.
- It was "K a bunch of dudes but get otherwise lit-up" day for the Reds' potential rotation, as both Homer Bailey and Raisel Iglesias were in action in minor league games. Homer cleared 5 IP in 63 pitches and struck out 8 junior White Sox, but he also was tagged for a 3-run dinger and 5 ER in total. Similarly, Iglesias made it through 5 IP and K'd 5 against the junior-junior White Sox, but he too was tagged for 5 ER. It's spring still, though, so we'll just chalk those outings up to good old "they were working on things," K?
- The Reds will play host to their Goodyear brethren Cleveland Indians tomorrow in their final game before high-tailing it for Montreal for a pair of weekend exhibition games against the Toronto Blue Jays, and Mike Leake will be on the hill for the good guys opposite Zach McAllister.
- Tunes.