Reds split exhibition games
Published 3:27 am Wednesday, March 2, 2011
PHOENIX (AP) — Jonny Gomes and Yonder Alonso both hit two-run homers in the fourth inning to lead a Cincinnati Reds split-squad to a 7-6 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday.
The Reds did not have a baserunner over the first three innings against Gio Gonzalez and Brett Anderson, before the Gomes and Alonso homers punctuated a six-hit inning against Anderson in the fourth.
Reds starter Mike Leake, vying for Cincinnati’s No. 5 starter job, gave up one run in two innings in his first start of the spring.
Gonzalez struck out five of the six batters he faced for the A’s. Anderson gave up four runs in two innings. Oakland’s two new free-agent relievers, Brian Fuentes and Grant Balfour, each made their debuts. Fuentes pitched a scoreless inning and Balfour gave up three runs.
Angels 2, Reds (ss) 1
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Jered Weaver allowed one run and two hits in two innings Tuesday, helping the Los Angeles Angels beat a Cincinnati Reds’ split squad 2-1.
Weaver struck out two and walked none, allowing an RBI single in the first to NL MVP Joey Votto. Weaver was 13-12 with a 3.01 ERA last year and figures to be the Angels’ opening-day starter.
Reds starter Johnny Cueto allowed two runs and two hits in three innings, hitting Erick Aybar and Peter Bourjos with pitches.
“I’m very happy with my first time,” Cueto said. “I had good location. I used all my pitches. They hit a double off a 2-1 changeup. I wouldn’t have thrown it in that situation, but I wanted to work on it.”
Brandon Wood, hitting eighth, opened his exhibition season with a double down the left-field line on a 1-2 count in the third. Aybar added an RBI single in the inning, and Bobby Abreu had a sacrifice fly.