Cincinnati Reds news: Wandy Peralta flawless, Yasiel Puig goes deep

The Cincinnati Reds fell to the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday. Wandy Peralta continued to pitch well this spring and Yasiel Puig got his first home run.

The Cincinnati Reds continued their spring games yesterday with an 8-10 loss to last year’s NL Central champs, the Milwaukee Brewers. The Reds went years twice in the game and took an 8-1 lead into the 5th inning, before the Brewers ripped off 9 straight runs. Let’s check out some news and notes from your favorite team.

Peralta returning to form. Wandy Peralta had a very disappointing 2018 season, but thus far in the spring of 2019, he seems to be returning to the player that Reds valued so much during 2017. Peralta hasn’t allowed a single hit all spring.

Okay, it’s only been two games and two innings of work, but Wandy Peralta looks to be back on track after 2018 left he and many in the front office scratching their heads. Peralta pitched in 59 games last season with a 5.36 ERA and a 1.936 WHIP. This was after a 2017 season that saw Peralta earn a 3.76 ERA and a WHIP of 1.191.

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In Peralta’s first trip to the mound this season, he faced three batters and struck out two of them. Yesterday, Peralta entered the game in the top of the 4th inning, replacing Michael Lorenzen. Peralta induced Mike Moustakas into a pop out, Hernan Perez flew out to left, and José Peraza fielded a ground ball from Manny Pina and threw onto Joey Votto at first for the out.

With Zach Duke now on the team, it seems like a bit of a stretch for Peralta to make the team out of camp, however, the other lefties projected to be in the Reds’ bullpen (Cody Reed and Brandon Finnegan), have not impressed thus far.

Puig goes yard. In what Cincinnati Reds fans hope is a preview of things to come this season, Yasiel Puig hit his first home run of the season during Thursday’s spring game against the Milwaukee Brewers. Puig sent a towering two-run shot to left field in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Matt Kemp, who’d been replaced on the base paths by Kyle Wren, hit a double to center field. After Eugenio Suárez struck out swinging, Puig came to the plate looking for a pitch to hit and he got it. It was Puig’s first long ball since coming to the Reds from Los Angeles and fans can’t wait to see more of that.

Peraza is mortal after all. José Peraza returned to earth yesterday, going 0-for-3 in the spring game against Milwaukee. Peraza had started the preseason 5-for-5 with an RBI and 3 stolen bases. His batting average this spring is still sitting at .625.

Peraza is locked in as the Cincinnati Reds starter at shortstop despite the team bringing in former All-Star José Iglesias on a minor league deal. Peraza seems primed for a big year and perhaps a spot at the top of the batting order if his hot-hitting spring continues.

Next up. The Cincinnati Reds will take on the San Francisco Giants tonight at 9:05 ET. Tyler Mahle is scheduled to take the mound against Madison Bumgarner. Mahle has pitched one inning thus far in the spring, allowed 1 hit, struck out 2 batters, and issued 2 walks.

The walks are concerning and something that I’m sure David Bell is hoping for Mahle to straighten out as the spring games continue. Bumgarner is one of the top pitchers in baseball, so it’ll be interesting to see how the Reds hitters fair against the former World Series MVP.