Reds lose two exhibition games

Published 2:10 am Monday, March 14, 2016

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — Sam Fuld hit a three-run homer off Jon Moscot and had an RBI triple to help the Oakland Athletics to beat the Cincinnati Reds 9-4 on Friday.

Jed Lowrie, Max Muncy and Mark Canha had doubles for the Athletics.

Jay Bruce hit an RBI single in the Reds’ three-run fourth against Mark Rzepczynski, who the Athletics obtained in a trade with San Diego. Joey Votto hit a single to reach base for the 10th time in 19 plate appearances.

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Fuld saved a run when a bloop fly ball fell in shallow rightfield. Fuld’s barehanded throw nipped Votto at second. Jordan Pacheco followed with his second home run of the spring.

Cincinnati’s Zack Cozart had a single in two at-bats in his first game this spring. Cozart had knee surgery in June. He slipped trying to get to a ground single by Renato Nunez to raise eyebrows in the Reds’ dugout.

“We had a moment of pause when he slipped on the backhand,” Reds’ manager Bryan Price said. “It wasn’t a concern to him but it was to us.”

Cozart was nervous during his first at bat.

“My first at-bat I couldn’t calm it down,” Cozart said. “I did things I hadn’t done in nine months, I slipped and fell, got up. I went back on a fly ball. I ran bases, touched the base and hit and ran out of the box. All the things that are tough to emulate. It’s been so long, nine months and a day. On the slip, I was just upset that I didn’t get to the ball. Mentally, I feel good and I’m glad it’s over.”

Reds outfielder Juan Duran, suspended by Major League Baseball for a positive test for a prohibited substance, hit his second homer.

Cubs 7, Reds (ss) 4

MESA, Ariz. (AP) — Anthony Rizzo doubled twice Friday in the Chicago Cubs’ 7-4 victory over a Cincinnati Reds split-squad team Friday.

Rizzo went 2 for 2 with a walk, scored twice and raised his Cactus League batting average from .182 to .308.

John Lackey, making his first start of spring training, gave up three runs and five hits in three innings for the Cubs. He walked one and struck out four.

Reds starter Robert Stephenson, a first-round pick in 2011, went three innings and gave up three hits and two runs.

Cubs catcher Miguel Montero hit his second homer of the spring, a two-run blast in the fourth that broke a 3-3 tie. Backup catcher Tim Federowicz added a homer in the bottom of the eighth.

Jose Peraza went 3 for 4 with a homer for the Reds. Adam Duvall hit a single that scored two runs in the third for the Reds.

DH Dan Vogelbach hit a solo shot for the Cubs in the second inning.