Record 7-9. Change on 2025: +0.5. 5-inning record: 4-11-1.
As documented this morning by Justin, Torey Lovullo had some harsh words for our pitching. How did they respond? Well, the score above gives you some clue. To be fair, the Arizona defense helped – or, rather, did not. The Diamondbacks were tagged for three errors, and I’d say it should be more. A ball with an exit velocity of 87.5 mph and distance of 12 (!) feet does not usually lead to a home-run being credited to the hitter. Yet in the fifth, that’s exactly what happened. I’m not sure what right
fielder Oscar Mercado was doing. Maybe filing his taxes. That broke a 1-1 tie and gave the Reds a lead they would never relinquish.
It only got uglier after that, the Arizona staff allowing 14 hits across eight innings of work. Cincinnati got a five-run sixth, Junior Martinez retiring one of seven runners faced, and the same in the eighth, off Taylor Rashi and Spencer Giesting. Drey Jameson didn’t do his case for a bullpen spot any good either. He got the start, and allowed three hits and a walk, while recording two outs. But there were scoreless innings from Kevin Ginkel, Ryan Thompson and John Curtiss. However, the last five pitchers used by Arizona ended the day with spring ERAs of 6.75 or worse. And that included Curtiss.
The offense got nine hits and three walks. LuJames Groover had two doubles and drove in two, the day he was re-assigned. Jordan Lawlar did the same as well, including his third home-run in the seventh, a two-run shot (above). With a spring OPS of 1.348, the “Lawlar in CF on Opening Day” bus appears to be gaining momentum. He made a couple of good plays there this afternoon. Ryan Waldschmidt joined Groover in taking re-assignment personally, reaching base all four times he came up, on three hits and a walk. But this was a game where you wished the WBC mercy rule had been in effect.
Tomorrow, it’s back to Salt River Fields for a game against the Mariners. First pitch will be 1:10 pm, with Zac Gallen on the mound for Arizona.
