Selsky’s 2B gives Reds win
Published 1:37 am Tuesday, March 18, 2014
GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — Minor league outfielder Steve Selsky doubled in two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning for the Cincinnati Reds, who bounced back from blowing a three-run lead and rallied to beat the Cleveland Indians 5-4 on Monday.
Indians minor league pitcher Tyler Guuilmet gave up singles to Argenis Diaz and Ramon Santiago, who is bidding for a bench role for the Reds.
Selsky then drove in the tying and winning runs. Tyler Holt was injured trying to field the ball in the left-field corner.
“How about David Selsky?” Reds first year manager Bryan Price said. “Nice.”
Nick Swisher homered and Lonnie Chisenhall tripled to bring the Indians back after they fell behind 3-0. Cleveland took a 4-3 lead in the top of the ninth before losing.
Swisher’s home run was one of three hits off Reds starter Mike Leake. It was Swisher’s second home run in two days. Chisenhall, fighting for a job at third base, tripled off Pedro Beato to start a two-run seventh inning that tied the game.
Corey Kluber gave up five of the seven hits he allowed in the Reds’ three-run second inning.
Jay Bruce’s leadoff double and Todd Frazier’s two-run triple gave the Reds an early advantage. Joey Votto singled twice in four at-bats.
Umpire Brad Myers left the game after he was hit in the groin area with a line drive hit by Brandon Phillips. He was lying on the ground for several minutes until he was able to sit up and ride off the field on cart.
“It may have been the hardest ball hit all day,” Price said. “We heard that he was taken to the hospital to make sure he was OK. An umpire getting hit with a ball isn’t unusual but getting hit in that region is beyond just painful.”
Reds manager Bryan Price successfully challenged an out call at third base. Umpire Alan Porter called Phillips out on a steal of third in the fifth inning. The call was overturned from the replay truck. The replay took one minute.
“The replay worked out,” Price said. “They were working with a three-man crew and after the umpire got hit, they were working with two. Alan Porter had to cover a couple positions. He felt he had the call right.”
The delay was minor.
“It was very quick. We don’t have any advantages of having someone in the video room to tell us whether to review it or not. It doesn’t have to be as confrontational with the umpires,” Price said.
STARTING TIME:
Indians: Corey Kluber, who will pitch the second game of the regular season in Oakland, worked 4 1/3 innings, allowing three runs and seven hits. He walked two and struck out five. The Reds had five hits in a three-run second inning.
“My stuff is near where I want it to be,” Kluber said. “There was some soft contact and some broken bats but I left a couple balls up in that second inning.”
Reds: Mike Leake, fully recovered from an abdominal strain, allowed a run and four hits in four innings. Leake struck out six without walking a batter.
“I tried to work quick,” Leake said. “I kind of got lazy on a couple pitches but threw the ball pretty well for the most part.”
TRAINER’S ROOM:
Indians: Outfielder Michael Bourn left Sunday’s game with San Francisco with a tight left hamstring. It is not in the same area of the hamstring that required surgery on Oct. 15. “I feel pretty good,” Bourn said. “I tweaked it going from first to third.” … Infielder Justin Sellers left the game with the Giants with a slightly strained right hip flexor. “He will miss a few days,” manager Terry Francona said.
Reds: Jonathan Broxton made his first spring appearance against the Indians. He had forearm flexor mass surgery on his right elbow in August. Broxton pitched a scoreless inning, using just eight pitches. “I had no problem getting loose,” Broxton said. “Anytime you can get out there with an umpire, you have to pick on something to work on. Today, I was working on fastballs and that’s all I did. … Sean Marshall is working through a sore shoulder. He threw in the bullpen. … Mat Latos will pitch in a minor league game on Wednesday. He has been slowed since undergoing surgery to remove bone chips in October and arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on Feb. 14. … Homer Bailey has a sore right groin. He is doing some light throwing.
REPLAY CHALLENGE:
Francona hasn’t challenged a play in four instant replay test games. Opponents didn’t challenge any calls in the first three games until Price successfully challenged a stolen base call that went against the Reds.
Instead of a runner on first and two outs, the Reds had runners on first and third with one out. The Reds loaded the bases but didn’t score as Ryan Ludwick grounded into a double-play.
UMPIRES TARGETS:
Umpires were hit twice in the game. Brad Myers took a direct hit from a line drive by Brandon Phillips and had to leave the game. The umpires were using a three-man crew, with four umpires rotating from the field to the replay truck. This game was designated as a test for replays.
When Myers left, the umpires worked with two for one inning until umpire John Tompane took over on the field. Tompane was hit by a thrown ball by Indians first baseman Joe Sever in the eighth inning.
ROSTER MOVES:
The Indians optioned left-handed pitchers Scott Barnes and Nick Hagadone to Triple-A Columbus. Right-handers Travis Banwart, Tyler Cloyd and J.C. Ramirez were reassigned to minor league camp. Left-handed pitcher Mike Zagurski was also reassigned to minor league camp. Ramirez was scheduled for surgery on his fractured left thumb and torn ligament at the Cleveland clinic. He is expected to miss eight to 10 weeks.