Andrew Abbott faced a challenging outing on the mound, allowing eight runs in just two innings, which set the stage for the Cincinnati Reds' 11-6 defeat to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday evening.
Game Highlights
The Reds started with a leadoff single but couldn't capitalize, while the Diamondbacks made the most of their opportunities in the bottom of the first. Jordan Lawlar kicked things off with a single, advanced to third on another hit, and scored on Tim Tawa’s sacrifice fly, giving Arizona an early lead.
By the third inning, the Diamondbacks were at it again. Two consecutive singles set the stage, with the second one driving in a run.
James McCann then launched a two-run homer, pushing the score to 4-0. Abbott's struggles continued as he issued a walk and was subsequently replaced by Jimmy Romano.
Romano surrendered an RBI double to Ryan Waldschmidt, and A.J. Vukovich's single brought in another run, extending Arizona's advantage to 6-0.
In the top of the fourth, JJ Bleday hit a leadoff double but was picked off, a costly mistake as Nathaniel Lowe later smashed a 437-foot homer.
Abbott returned for the fourth but couldn’t find his rhythm. After giving up a single, a walk, and an RBI double, he was pulled again. Hagen Danner came in and immediately allowed a three-run homer, ballooning Arizona’s lead to 10-1.
The Reds showed some life in the fifth inning. Garrett Hampson hit his second homer of the spring, and JJ Bleday added a two-run shot, trimming the deficit. However, an error in the bottom half allowed Arizona to score again, making it 11-4.
Carlos Jorge provided a spark in the seventh with a one-out triple, his third of the spring, and scored on a wild pitch. Rece Hinds capped off the scoring for Cincinnati with a solo homer in the eighth, measuring 426 feet.
News and Notes
Abbott's day ended with a tough line: 2 innings, 8 hits, 8 earned runs, 3 walks, and 3 strikeouts, leaving his ERA at 13.85 across five outings. He’s given up 24 hits in 13 innings, including five homers.
TJ Friedl and JJ Bleday each collected two hits, with Bleday's both going for extra bases.
On a brighter note, Tony Santillan, Luis Mey, and Zach Maxwell each delivered a scoreless inning of relief.
Looking ahead, the Reds return home to face the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday. Fans can catch the action on Reds.tv or MLB.tv, with the game featured as one of the Free Games of the Day. First pitch is set for 1:10 PM ET.