Jason Marquis Solid Again as Reds Tie With Dodgers, 3-3

For the second time this spring, the Cincinnati Reds ended a game in a tie, this time with the Los Angeles Dodgers, 3-3.

Jason Marquis pitched well yet again, although he did give up his first run of the spring in the fourth inning on a run-scoring double by Adrian Gonzalez. Overall, Marquis pitched four innings, giving up a run on three hits and striking out one. Despite the three hits, he was able to limit the Dodgers’ offense with double plays to end the third and fourth innings.

Kyle Waldrop led the Reds on offense, starting a two-out rally in the second after drawing a walk from Dodgers’ starter Brandon McCarthy. After Waldrop stole second, Chris Dominguez doubled him in for an early one-run lead.

A Waldrop triple in which he lost his shoe and a Donald Lutz infield single gave the Reds a 2-0 lead in the fourth. After a 2014 season in which he earned the Reds minor league hitter of the year, Waldrop is garnering some attention with his play in spring training (5-for-18, two doubles, one triple, one home run). I think we can all expect to see him in a Reds uniform sooner rather than later.

After Gonzalez’s double put the Dodgers on the board in the fourth, the Reds scored again in the sixth. Dominguez picked up his second RBI of the game on a sacrifice fly, scoring Marlon Byrd, who doubled earlier in the inning, to increase the lead to 3-1.

The Dodgers struck back in the bottom half of the inning off of Aroldis Chapman, as Joc Pederson singled, stole second, and scored after a pair of groundouts. The run was the first allowed by Chapman in his three appearances.

Keyvius Sampson surrendered the one-run lead in the bottom of the ninth while trying to complete a two-inning save. With one out, Sampson gave up a double to Darnell Sweeney, who moved up to third after a fly out to center field and scored after a sacrifice fly from Dodgers’ top prospect Corey Seager to make it a 3-3 game, where the score would remain. Sampson was the third Reds pitcher on the day to give up their first run of the spring.

Other Notes:

• Kristopher Negron has been off to a slow start so far, but had a nice game today, going 2-for-3.
• Jose Mijares also pitched for the Reds tonight, tossing a perfect seventh inning.
• Per MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon, Jay Bruce (strained right calf) should return to the lineup tomorrow, while Billy Hamilton (sore right shoulder) and Devin Mesoraco (concussion) could also return this weekend. Bruce was in the initial lineup against the Dodgers, but was later scratched.

Next game: The Reds are back in Goodyear tomorrow to face off against the Colorado Rockies for the second time this spring. Anthony DeSclafani makes his third start of the spring, while Jordan Lyles will oppose him.

Next: Early Leaders in the Reds' Starting Rotation Race