Dominguez (4-for-5, 4 RBIs) Leads Cincinnati Reds to 8-6 Win Over Angels

W: Jason Marquis (3-1)

L: Andrew Heaney (0-2)

SV: Sam LeCure (1)

Early offense was the name of the game again for the Cincinnati Reds in their 8-6 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday.

Irving Falu got the scoring started in the top of the second inning. His single off of Angels’ starter Andrew Heaney brought home Brennan Boesch, who had singled earlier in the inning, to give the Reds an early 1-0 advantage.

The Angels answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the second on an RBI groundout by Efren Navarro after Jason Marquis gave up a pair of singles to start the inning.

Boesch (2-for-5) and Chris Dominguez (4-for-5) continued to make a strong case to be included on the Opening Day roster, driving in all four Reds runs in the third inning with an RBI double and a three-run home run, respectively. The Vladimir Guerrero-like homer was Dominguez’s third of the spring.

The Angels cut into the Reds’ four-run lead in the fourth on a two-run homer by C.J. Cron that was hit completely out of the stadium. Cron’s homer was the first given up by Marquis this spring. In six total innings, Marquis gave up three runs on seven hits with three strikeouts and two walks. Marquis hasn’t been as sharp in his last three starts as he was in his first three, but his spot in the rotation should still be safe for now.

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In the top of the sixth, the Reds struck for two more runs on an RBI single from Skip Schumaker and a bases-loaded walk to Kristopher Negrón, giving them a 7-3 lead.

After J.J. Hoover‘s perfect seventh inning, Pedro Villarreal‘s dismal spring continued in the eighth inning, as he allowed the Angels to get within one run. Villarreal gave up three runs on three hits and two walks in his inning of work, bringing his spring ERA to 12.38.

The Reds’ got a run back in the ninth on Dominguez’s RBI double — his fourth hit of the day — to make it an 8-6 game.

Sam LeCure came on in the ninth and gave up a double and a walk, but was able to hold the lead to earn a save and lock down the Reds’ victory.

Other Notes:

• Unfortunately, today’s game was not all good news for the Reds, as Devin Mesoraco left the game after suffering a cramp in his left quad while running the bases in the third inning. Given his issues with a leg injury last year, it’s certainly a cause for concern, but hopefully Mesoraco can avoid a trip to the disabled list and be ready by Opening Day.
• Irving Falu went 3-for-3 in today’s game, raising his spring batting average to .306.
• With a homer and two doubles today, 10 of Chris Dominguez’s 17 spring hits have been for extra bases.

Up Next: The Reds will be back in Goodyear on Monday to take on the San Diego Padres. Anthony DeSclafani, coming off of his best outing of the spring, will get the start. The Padres’ starter is currently unlisted. First pitch is scheduled for 4:05 ET.

Opening Day Countdown: 8 days!

Next: Reds' bats have another big day in 9-5 win over Cubs