Frazier, Negron Homer as Cincinnati Reds Beat Indians 4-0

W: Mike Leake (2-0)

L: Corey Kluber (0-1)

The Cincinnati Reds continued their home run barrage from yesterday, hitting two more off of reigning American League Cy Young winner Corey Kluber en route to a 4-0 victory over the Cleveland Indians.

The scoring was started by Todd Frazier, who hit a no-doubt solo home run (his first of the spring) to left in the second inning.

Kristopher Negron smashed his first round-tripper of the spring in the third inning to give the Reds an early 2-0 lead. Negron has been on fire the last several days and had two more hits today bringing him to 8-for-14 over his last four games. Another run was added when Skip Schumaker tripled and scored on a wild pitch, pushing the lead to three.

Opposing Kluber for the Reds was another top-of-the-rotation pitcher in Mike Leake and he continued his great spring. Leake tossed four innings of scoreless baseball, giving up two hits and a walk while striking out three. The right-hander has yet to give up a run this spring. If he can carry his spring success over to the regular season, that would be huge for the club, as Leake is now being asked to be a No. 3 starter (No. 2 while Homer Bailey is out).

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The Reds tacked on another run in the top of the fifth as Negron led the inning off with a single, moved to third after an errant pickoff throw from pitcher Bryan Shaw, and then scored on a single from Billy Hamilton.

Both offenses were stifled from the fifth inning on. After Leake came out of the game, Aroldis Chapman, Burke Badenhop, and Tony Cingrani pitched for the Reds, giving up only two hits between them.

The appearance for Cingrani was his first since it was announced he was being sent to the bullpen. In two innings of work, he didn’t allow a baserunner and struck out three.

Other Notes:

• The Reds actually had a successful stolen base today, as Hamilton stole his first base of the spring.
• While it has nothing to do with today’s game, it’s worth noting that Pete Rose has once again filed for reinstatement. Commissioner Rob Manfred told the media today that there is no timetable on his decision.

Up Next: The Chicago White Sox roll into Goodyear tomorrow to take on the Reds for the first time this spring. Jason Marquis will make his fourth start of the spring for the Reds and will face off against Jose Quintana for the White Sox.

Next: Jay Bruce appears poised for a comeback year