Raising Reds: Weekend Edition

(Photo Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports)

I would love to tell everyone that this past weekend was a profitable one for the farm…but, alas, it wasn’t. Well, as far as wins and losses go anyway. Seems like the big clubs five-game losing streak has made its way into the system.

Hopefully, this evening begins a postive trend for both the Reds affiliates and the big club. We all know losing flat out sucks regardless of the level in which you are playing. Development is the top priority here, but you also like to develop the winning mentality as well.

And that’s honestly a difficult task for Jim Riggleman (Louisville), Delino DeSheilds (Pensacola), Ken Griffey, Sr. (Bakersfield) and Jose Nieves (Dayton).

Here a recap from this past weekend.

Louisville Bats

Saturday

W: Alvarez, Jo (1-1, 2.70) ; L: Corcino (0-2, 7.27)

Nick Christiani: 1.1 IP, H, 0 R, SO

Only two hits? Really? Seriously?

Sunday

W: Reineke (2-0, 1.00) ; L: Hill, S (0-1, 2.95) ; SV: Whelan (2)

Henry Rodriguez: 2-for-4
Chad Reineke: 4 IP, 5 H, R, BB, SO
Jose Arredondo: 2 IP, H, BB, 4 SO
Kevin Whelan: IP, 0 H, 0 R, SO

Tony Cingrani pitched the first 2 innings of this game in which he was perfect over that span and he struck out 5 of the 6 batters he faced. Then he was pulled after the 2nd inning as he was getting the call to head to Cincy. The ‘pen stepped up in a big way with the trio of Reineke, Arredondo and Whelan finishing off the Mud Hens and putting the Bats over .500.

Pensacola Blue Wahoos

Saturday

W: Lorin (2-0, 0.00) ; L: Van Mil (0-1, 3.00)

Tucker Barnhart: 3-for-4
Chad Rogers: 6 IP, 2 H, R, BB, 5 SO

The only two runs the Blue Wahoos scored were on solo shots by Travis Mattair and Donald Lutz.

Sunday

W: Hagens (2-0, 1.93) ; L: Lotzkar (0-1, 11.25) ; SV: Schultz (1)

Donald Lutz: 2-for-4, RBI (6)
Ryan Dennick: 6 IP, 5 H, 2 R, ER, BB, 4 SO

For a second straight game, the Blue Wahoos dropped a 5-2 decision to the Baybears.

Bakersfield Blaze

Saturday

W: Brown, J (1-0, 2.57) ; L: Dennhardt (1-1, 1.35)

Juan Silverio: 2-for-5, R, HR (1), RBI (1)
Pat Doyle: 3.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 SO

After taking their first game of the season the game before, the Blaze dropped a heartbreaker in extras.

Sunday

W: Granier (2-1, 3.60) ; L: Robles (0-3, 10.64)

Juan Perez: 2-for-4
Juan Silverio: 3-for-3, 2 RBI (3)

Not a pretty game for the Blaze. Only one of the runs allowed was unearned. Hard to believe when you commit four errors. Whatever is ailing Tanner Robles needs to be corrected. He’s issued 9 walks in 11 IP and oppoenets are hitting .311 against him. I know, it’s the Cal League, but…

Dayton Dragons

Saturday

W: Gonzalez, S (1-0, 4.50) ; L: Bender (0-1, 6.23) ; SV: Griggs, S (2)

Robert Ramirez: 2-for-3, SB (1)
Andrew Cisco: 7 IP, 7 H, R, 2 SO

Cisco pitched well, limiting the Loons to a mere run.

W: Cash (1-0, 0.93) ; L: Romano (1-1, 2.31)

In this makeup of the Opening Night postponement, the Dragons offered very little in the way of offense.

Sunday

W: Frias (2-0, 1.64) ; L: Stephenson (0-2, 7.11) ; SV: Downing (1)

Wow…7 errors total. Not a defensive display. Robert Stephenson was rocked for 8 runs (6 earned) in only 2.2 IP. Opponents are batting .339 against the Reds top pick from 2011. He does own 20 strikeouts with only 3 walks in his 12.2 innings of work. Wes Mugarian didn’t fare much better permitting 4 runs (3 earned) in 2.1 IP.