Spring training games can be wild affairs and that was the case on Sunday in Goodyear, Arizona between the Cincinnati Reds and the Seattle Mariners. The Reds built up an 8-2 lead only to see if evaporate and the Mariners just clobber Cincinnati’s bullpen by scoring 12 runs after the 4th inning to pull out a come-from-behind win.
The Highlights
Seattle scored a run in the 1st inning to take a 1-0 lead. The Reds took the lead from them in the 2nd as they put together six straight 1-out hits that included RBI doubles from JJ Bleday and Matt McLain as part of a 5-run rally.
Two innings later the Reds would add to their lead as they got three singles from Bleday, Rece Hinds, and Matt McLain before Elly De La Cruz picked up an inning-capping 2-run double that made it 8-2. De La Cruz hit his double at 112.5 MPH – which was somehow only the third hardest hit ball of the game.
From there it was all Seattle. The Mariners would score three runs in the 5th, two runs in the 7th, a run in the 8th to tie the game up, and then they put up six runs in the 9th inning to bury the Reds.
You can see the box score for this game here.
News and Notes
The challenge system got used a lot today, reportedly using more energy than the proposed data center coming to your neighborhood soon. There were nine calls challenged during this game. Six calls were overturned as the umpire was having a tough day. It’s spring training for all of us.
Matt McLain (2-3, 2B, 2 RBI), Elly De La Cruz (2-3, 2 2B, 2 RBI, JJ Bleday (2-3, 2B, 2 RBI), and Rece Hinds (2-2, 2 runs) all had multi-hit days.
Cincinnati’s non-starters had one hit on the day, going a combined 1-14. Michael Chavis had the lone hit from the group, picking up a line drive single in the 6th inning.
Relievers Nick Sando, Graham Ashcraft, and Tejay Antone all threw a shutout inning during the game.
Reds pitchers walked 10 batters. Reds hitters walked zero times. Connor Phillips walked three batters in 0.2 innings. Zach Maxwell walked four in 0.2 innings.
In a game that featured 22 runs scored there was only one home run hit and it didn’t come until the 9th inning.
Your daily reminder that right now all that matters is that everyone got through the game healthy. And it appears that they did.
Tomorrow is an off day for the Reds when it comes to playing games. They will be back on the field on Tuesday to take on the Kansas City Royals. Andrew Abbott will be making his first start of the spring in this game.
