CHAPMAN AND BAILEY LOOK MORE LIKE OPENING DAY STARTERS THAN SCHEDULED
STARTER AARON HARANG
3.9.10 BY: MEH HOMER PERFECT/CHAPMAN DEBUTS
CHAPMAN AND BAILEY LOOK MORE LIKE OPENING DAY STARTERS THAN SCHEDULED
STARTER AARON HARANG
(Photo: Brian
Baker) With only puddles remaining in Arizona after
heavy rain caused Sunday's game to be cancelled, Homer Bailey started
Monday's "B" game for the Reds. Facing the Brewers, Bailey pitched two
perfect innings while striking out two. Carlos Fisher followed Bailey pitching two scoreless
innings (1BB, 1SO). The Reds went on to defeat the Brewers by a score of
4-2. The intriguing Enerio Del Rosario closed the game working a perfect
ninth. Del Rosasrio has been a major surprise during camp so far. After
Sarasota pitching coach Tom Brown got Del Rosario to pitch sidearmed, his
pitches began to move (In 50 relief appearances last year in the minors he
was 3-1 with 12 saves and a 1.68ERA). With a nasty sinker, expect to see Del
Rosario for some relief help sometime this season.
Bronson Arroyo started the Reds' "A" on Monday. Working two innings, Arroyo
threw 26 pitches and retired all six batters in order striking out one.
Arroyo on his start:
"I felt good. I had command of everything pretty much, which
was surprising. The first time out, you usually feel pretty
uncomfortable. I threw everything - the changeup, a back-door breaking ball,
sinker and everything was pretty good."
Nobody was there to see Arroyo though. Monday
was Aroldis Chapman's spring debut and he delighted all hitting 100mph on
the radar gun. 2,017 showed up to watch Chapman's spring debut as the Reds
beat the Kansas City Royals 15-4. Chapman pitched two innings allowing only
one hit and striking out three. To some Chapman seems to earning his $30.25
million already. His final pitch was a slider that struck out Rick Ankiel.
He had this to say:
"The one strike, he threw a little different one, it was smaller, I don't
know if he tried to do that. With two (strikes) it was a
little bigger."
Despite the presence of Aroldis Chapman thickening the air, the Red's
offense was ample. The Reds scored 15 runs thanks to home runs by Drew
Stubbs, Jonny Gomes, and Danny Dorn. Scott Rolen and Jay Bruce also had
solid days each going 2-3 and scoring a run. Needless to say, Monday was a
good day for the Redlegs.
On Tuesday, facing the Arizona Diamondbacks, it was a different story.
Opening Day starter Aaron Harang was scheduled to pitch 3 innings, but after
allowing three earned runs and four hits during 1 1/3, he reached his pitch
count of 50 and was pulled. Matt Maloney also struggled on Tuesday after a
very good first outing. Maloney pitched just 2/3 of an inning allowing four
earned runs and four hits. Francisco Cordero pitched one perfect inning,
while Jay Bruce tried to salvage the Reds' day going 2-3 with a home run.
The Reds lost the game by a final score of 10-4.
Next up is Mike Lincoln for the Reds Wednesday at 3:05et. This may be the
fifth-spot candidate's last chance to prove himself. Here is a list of
the starters for the next week.
Wed at LAA: RHP Mike Lincoln vs LHP Trevor Reckling
3:05et
Thu vs Mil: RHP Johnny Cueto vs LHP Chris Narveson 3:05et
Fri at LAD: RHP Bronson Arroyo vs LHP Clayton Kershaw 3:05et
Sat at Cubs: RHP Homer Bailey vs TBA 700 wlw, 3:05et
Sun vs WSox: LHP Matt Maloney vs TBA 700 wlw, 3:05et
Mon vs Oak: RHP Mike Lincoln vs TBA 3:05e
