Raising Reds: 4/12/13, Blaze Win!

Everyone got their games in last night. The Pensacola Blue Wahoos played two! Two seven-innings games, that is. Still, that’s bonus baseball! Who doesn’t love that?!?!

Last night (or early this morning depending on the time zone in which you live) saw the Bakersfield Blaze winning their first game of the season. A pair of nice starts from the Blue Wahoos. A “home opening” win from the Dragons…and they’ll play two today! More bonus baseball!

Feb 16, 2013; Goodyear, AZ, USA; Villarreal (65) during photo day at the Reds Spring Training Facility. (Photo Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports)

Louisville Bats

W: Below (1-0, 2.19) ; L: Villarreal (0-1, 2.08) ; SV: Rondon (1)

Pedro Villarreal: 6 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 5 SO

Not a lot of scoring up in Toledo last night. The Mud Hens scored twice of Villarreal in the 3rd to amass all the runs they would need for the win. The Bats ‘pen kept them in this game, but only a Neftali Soto double in the 7th would produce Louisville’s only run.

Next game: 4/13 @ Toledo, 6:00 PM ET start

Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Game 1

W: Crabbe (1-0, 0.82) ; L: Spruill (0-2, 2.45) ; SV: Partch (2)

Tim Crabbe: 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 SO

What can you add to the effort given by Crabbe? All the Blue Wahoos needed was that one run to beat the Baybears. In his two starts thus far, Crabbe has allowed 1 run and 4 hits in 11 innings.

Game 2

W: Schultz (1-0, 0.00) ; L: Hyde (0-2, 21.00)

Yohan Pino: 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 SO

This was Pino’s first start of the season. He deserved a better fate as he held the Baybers to only two hits as Crabbe did in the first game of the twinbill. For the season, Pino has worked 9 innings, allowed only 3 hits and no runs. He also has 10 strikeouts.

Next game: @ Mobile, 8:05 PM ET

Bakersfield Blaze

W: Dennhardt (1-0, 0.00) ; L: Macias (0-1, 3.18) ; SV: Pinckard (1)

Sammy Diaz: 2-for-4, 2 R
Yorman Rodriguez: 2-for-4, R, 3 RBI (6)
Brooks Pinckard: IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 SO, SV (1)

As the Blaze came to bat in the bottom of the 8th, they trailed the Ports 4-3. With two outs and the bases loaded, Rodriguez nailed a bases-clearing double to stake the Blaze to its first win of the 2013 season.

Next game: v. Stockton @ 10:15 PM ET

Dayton Dragons

W: Amezcua (1-0, 9.00) ; L: Downing (0-1, -.–)

Humberto Valor: 1-3, HR (1), 2 RBI (2)

The home opener from Thursday night was postponed, so last night served as Home Opener, part 2. The results were a Dragons win in their first home game of 2013. Dayton sent 8 men to the dish in the 8th to send the Dragons to the win. What might make this game seem a little bizarre is that the Dragons scored 8 times while only getting 5 hits and drawing only 3 walks. The 3 errors did not aid the Loons cause.

And the Dragons also stole 4 bases.

Next game: v. Loons 6:00 PM ET (DH w/2nd game following as makeup for 4/11 postponement)

Prospect of the Day
Once again we’re left with the question of offense or pitching. Pitching wins out here as Tim Crabbe was simply wonderful in his 6 innings of work for the Blue Wahoos. Reds fans are abuzz about the start of one Tony Cingrani, but Crabbe should be opening a few eyes as well. He’s been just as sensational so far into the 2013 season.