GOODYEAR, Ariz.: Joey Votto had two hits and reached base three times as the Cincinnati Reds beat the Indians 6-5 Tuesday in the spring training opener for both teams.
Scott Schebler homered in his first at-bat with the Reds, who got him from the Dodgers as part of a three-team deal that sent third baseman Todd Frazier to the White Sox.
Schebler is part of a crowded competition for the starting job in left field. Jake Cave (two hits) and Adam Duvall (1-for-2), two more candidates, also had a nice day.
Eugenio Suarez had two doubles and drove in two runs. Suarez is moving from shortstop to third base, replacing Frazier.
Cleveland’s Carlos Santana homered off Jon Moscot in his first spring at-bat. Minor leaguer Eric Stamets also homered off Zack Weiss, who is competing for a spot in the Reds’ bullpen.
“We did some good things, we did some not so good things,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “Gio [Giovanny Urshella] got picked off at first. We can’t do that. I don’t care when it is in the year, we can’t do that. [Robbie] Grossman got a little overexcited. It cost us some chances to score, but we swung the bats OK.”
Indians starter Josh Tomlin gave up a run and three hits in one inning. Rebounding from an injury in spring training last year, Tomlin is competing with T.J. House and Cody Anderson for the fifth spot in the rotation.
“Every time I step on a baseball field, I get nervous,” Tomlin said. “It’s like a good anxious feeling. It’s a tough race. There’s no doubt about it they are tough pitchers. Our job is to come together and do the best we can to get ready for the season.”
