Cincinnati Reds: Roark roughed up in final spring tuneup

GOODYEAR, AZ - FEBRUARY 19: Tanner Roark #35 of the Cincinnati Reds poses for a portrait at the Cincinnati Reds Player Development Complex on February 19, 2019 in Goodyear, Arizona. (Photo by Rob Tringali/Getty Images)

GOODYEAR, AZ - FEBRUARY 19: Tanner Roark #35 of the Cincinnati Reds poses for a portrait at the Cincinnati Reds Player Development Complex on February 19, 2019 in Goodyear, Arizona. (Photo by Rob Tringali/Getty Images)
Sports
By Associated Press
March 26, 2019
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Cincinnati right-hander Tanner Roark was roughed up for five quick runs in his final start before the regular season, and the Atlanta Braves defeated the Reds 8-5 in an exhibition game Monday night.

Roark, acquired from the Washington Nationals as part of a major offseason overhaul, hurt his cause by walking two, hitting another batter with a pitch and throwing a ball away at the plate. He lasted only 1 2/3 innings, completing a largely impressive spring at 2-2 with a 4.22 ERA in seven starts.

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“He’s been perfect until today,” Reds manager David Bell said. “The focus and concentration were there, but I think he’s just so ready for the season. There’s no concern.”

Eugenio Suarez and Derek Dietrich homered for the Reds, while Atlanta’s Dansby Swanson also went deep. Former AL MVP Josh Donaldson, the Braves’ big acquisition of the offseason, doubled off the base of the wall to drive home a run in the five-run second that chased Roark.

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Roark breezed through the opening inning but walked the first two hitters of the second. Ozzie Albies followed with a run-scoring single before Tyler Flowers was plunked with a pitch to load the bases. Matt Joyce grounded into a forceout to bring home another run, hustling down the line to beat a double play. That turned out to make a difference when Dansby Swanson hit a dribbler back to the mound, which Roark barehanded and zipped home in an attempt to get Albies.

The throw was terrible, actually striking Swanson’s discarded bat in front of the plate and deflecting past catcher Tucker Barnhart. Donaldson’s drive just below the 385-foot marker made it 5-0 and finished off Roark.

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Yasiel Puig was thrown out at third base to end the third, not even bothering to slide as he was tagged by Donaldson. Of course, that may have been a wise decision given some of Puig’s mishaps on the basepaths.

Reds roster

Robert Stephenson, bidding for the final spot in the Cincinnati bullpen, gave up two runs in two innings. The right-hander is competing with Matt Wisler and Wandy Peralta.

Trainer’s room

Reds left-hander Alex Wood is continuing his rehabilitation from a lower back injury at Cincinnati’s spring training complex in Arizona. He could be ready to rejoin the team on a West Coast trip in mid-April. … Top prospect Nick Senzel had to leave a minor league spring game after injuring an ankle on a slide. Bell said he was “anxious to see” the results of an exam to determine how seriously Senzel was hurt. He is expected to begin the season at Triple-A.

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Associated Press