Observations from Cincinnati Reds’ 7-6 Loss to Rockies

It’s now been one week since the Cincinnati Reds last won a game. Only nine days until Opening Day!

The dog days of spring continued on Friday, as the Cincinnati Reds dropped their sixth straight game to the Colorado Rockies by a 7-6 score.

Here are notes and observations from the game:

Pitchers continue to struggle

The Reds had another rough day on the mound against the Rockies, raising their team ERA to an unsightly 6.38 for the spring. Raisel Iglesias made his third start of the spring and endured a rough second inning, allowing a a single and a double before giving up a three-run home run to Pat Valaika, brother of former Red Chris Valaika. He rebounded with a perfect third inning, however, before exiting the game. Pedro Villarreal followed by allowing two runs on three hits and a walk in two innings of work. This was his first bad outing of the spring, so his spot in the bullpen is still safe considering that few others have emerged. Dayan Diaz pitched the eighth inning, giving up two runs on two hits and two walks.

Barnhart busts out of slump

Having not registered a hit since March 5, backup catcher Tucker Barnhart had himself quite the day at the dish, going 3-for-3 with a single, two doubles and two runs batted in. All three of his hits went to the opposite field and all from the right side of the plate, where the switch hitter has struggled mightily to this point in his career.

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Comeback attempt falls short

Facing a 7-4 deficit heading into the bottom of the ninth, the Reds were able to edge closer on back-to-back home runs by Ramon Cabrera and Bryson Smith with one out. But the rally would fall short, as Beamer Weems struck out and Donald Lutz grounded out to end things.

Notes:

• Keyvius Sampson (2 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 BB, 3 K) and Drew Hayes (1 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 2 K) were the only two Reds hurlers to not allow a run. Both have solid cases to make the bullpen, with Sampson being all but a lock at this point.
• Brandon Phillips smacked his first home run of the spring in the second inning on a no-doubter to left field.
• Zack Cozart seems to be getting his timing down at the plate after missing most of last season with a knee injury, as he picked up two hits to raise his spring average to .300.