Starters find their groove in Reds’ loss to Tribe

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There are six days until the Reds kick off their regular season. On Monday in Goodyear, the key bats of the Cincinnati lineup looked ready to go. Despite falling to the Cleveland Indians 8–3, mainstays in the starting nine gave Reds fans plenty of comfort about the season ahead.

Starting pitcher Alfredo Simon was roughed up by Cleveland in his five innings of work, allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits and a walk. He struck out three.

Indians third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall hit a solo homer to right center field in the top of the second to give the Tribe an early lead. The long ball was Cleveland’s friend on the day, as Ryan Raburn hit a two run shot in the third and Jason Kipnis padded the Indians’ lead with a three-run home run in the sixth.

Joey Votto, Jay Bruce and Ryan Ludwick tallied two hits apiece in the loss, with Votto and Bruce going on to score all three Cincinnati runs. Bruce and Ludwick each drove in a run. Starting shortstop Zack Cozart accounted for the third RBI with his double in the sixth inning.

Bats update: Neftali Soto is still in contention for a roster spot with the big club, and went 1-for-1 after replacing Ludwick in the lineup. Soto is now hitting .381 for the spring. Lee Hyde threw 1.2 innings and allowed one run on two hits with a strikeout in only his second outing this spring in which he’s allowed a run.

The Reds will visit the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday afternoon at 4:05 ET. Jeff Francis (0–2, 4.85) will take the mound for Cincinnati against Oakland’s Tommy Milone (1–1, 3.86).

Here’s Tuesday’s starting nine and a pair of backups for the Redlegs:

1. Billy Hamilton — CF
2. Chris Heisey — DH
3. Brandon Phillips — 2B
4. Todd Frazier — 3B
5. Neftali Soto/Chris Nelson — 1B
6. Roger Bernadina/Kristopher Negron — RF
7. Zack Cozart — SS
8. Jason Bourgeois — LF
9. Corky Miller — C