Cincinnati Reds Press Clippings March 19, 2016 THIS DAY IN REDS HISTORY 2014 - A Cactus League game between the Reds and Royals is abruptly stopped in the 6th inning when Reds closer Aroldis Chapman is struck in the face by a line drive off the bat of Salvador Perez. Chapman is taken off the field on a stretcher, with fractures above his eye and in his nose, as well as multiple lacerations.The two managers then elect not to continue play, with the blessing of home plate umpire Chris Guccione. MLB.COM Adam Duvall, Tyler Holt bookend Reds' win By Adam McCalvy / MLB.com | @AdamMcCalvy | March 18th, 2016 + 166 COMMENTS PHOENIX -- Adam Duvall had three hits for the Reds, including a long, two-run home run, and Chris Carter hit his third homer for the Brewers as the teams battled back and forth Friday at Maryvale Baseball Park. The Reds ultimately prevailed, 7-6. Carter hit a solo home run in the fourth inning, Kirk Nieuwenhuis hit a tying triple in the fifth and Rymer Liriano lifted a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the sixth as part of a middle-inning comeback for the Brewers, who had won four of their previous five games. But the Reds quickly tied the game at 5 in the seventh inning on Jake Cave's two-out single. Duvall, a candidate for Cincinnati's left field vacancy who manned third base in this game, homered to cap the Reds' three-run first inning. Joey Votto also delivered an RBI single in the inning, but all three runs were unearned against Brewers starter Chase Anderson because of an error charged to left fielder Ryan Braun. "He was really locked in today," Reds manager Bryan Price said of Duvall. "That's one of the components that makes him so attractive to make our ballclub. It's a combination of the power with the ability he's shown this year, to not just pull, but he's done a nice job of shooting some balls to right field and right-center. "Then, getting another day over there at third base, I think, builds more confidence [in], I'm sure, his own ability to play the position, but also ours, in his ability to play the position, with flexibility being the key for our roster." Playing his second Cactus League game, Braun dropped a fly ball at the warning track in left-center field to extend the inning. Braun reclaimed one of those runs with an RBI double amid Milwaukee's two-run rally in the bottom of the first inning. Jay Bruce also drove in a run to support Reds starter -- and potential Opening Day pitcher -- Anthony DeSclafani, who was staked to leads of 3-0 and 4-2 before receiving a no-decision. He was charged with four earned runs on six hits in 4 2/3 innings, with one walk and seven strikeouts. Anderson was charged with four runs (one earned) on seven hits in four innings, and he has surrendered 12 earned runs in 10 2/3 innings this spring. Left-hander Franklin Morales made his Brewers debut in the fifth inning and worked around a two-out walk and a single in a scoreless frame. Up next for the Reds: Raisel Iglesias will be making his second start of spring as he tries to catch up and get ready for the regular season when the Reds travel to Mesa to meet the A's on Saturday at 4:05 p.m. ET on Gameday Audio. Billy Hamilton, Jose Peraza and Eugenio Suarez will also be on the trip for Cincinnati. Up next for the Brewers: Scooter Gennett is scheduled to get his first spring reps at second base when the Brewers travel to Tempe on Saturday to play the Angels at 3:10 p.m. CT on MLB.TV. Gennett, slowed by a sore throwing shoulder this spring, debuted as the Brewers' designated hitter on Thursday night and singled, doubled and homered in three plate appearances. He'll man second behind Brewers starter Wily Peralta. Adam McCalvy is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamMcCalvy, like him on Facebook and listen to his podcast. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. Hamilton focused on 'getting more at-bats' Post-surgery, center fielder confident he'll be ready for Opening Day By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com | @m_sheldon | March 18th, 2016 + 5 COMMENTS PHOENIX -- Following a setback to his surgically repaired right shoulder, Billy Hamilton waited most of Spring Training to get his chance to play center field again for the Reds. When it finally came on Friday vs. the Brewers, it wasn't action-packed, but it was still satisfying. Hamilton fielded one base hit in the first inning and caught a routine fly ball in the third in Cincinnati's 7-6 win over Milwaukee. His stint in the game spanned five innings total, and he went 0-for-3 at the plate. "I didn't really get tested today out there where I can throw the ball really, really hard," Hamilton said. "But when I've been throwing and warming up and everything, my arm has been feeling really good." Upon having arthroscopic surgery on the shoulder in September, Hamilton knew he likely wouldn't be 100 percent by the start of camp, but he arrived close. Then he suffered a setback when he felt sore following his March 2 spring debut as the designated hitter. Hamilton did not return to the lineup again until Tuesday, when he was used again at DH. "It's fun being out there to run around the outfield and get back to being used to it. I felt like I hadn't been out there in forever," he said. "Today was one of those days you always look forward to, especially when you're coming off of an injury. You look forward to the day you can get back out there and able to be in action with your team, not just DH, but actually be out there and with them. Today was a good day for me. I wish I could have gotten more balls and test my arm out a little more." The Reds have been fortunate to get some of their key players back from injuries. In the past week, shortstop Zack Cozart (knee) and catcher Devin Mesoraco (hip) both made their spring debuts following 2015 surgeries. They are expected to be ready for Opening Day on April 4 vs. the Phillies. Hamilton, who has been working on his shoulder with the training and strength staff all spring, felt he would also have enough time to be ready for Opening Day. "There's always room to go down and get more at-bats," Hamilton said. "That's all that I'm really worried about right now, just getting more at-bats. I can go to the Minor Leagues and get a few hits and here get a few at-bats. Making sure my arm is healthy is the main thing. I look forward to the next couple of weeks." Mark Sheldon is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Mark My Word, follow him on Twitter @m_sheldon and Facebook and listen to his podcast. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. Winker, Stephenson among eight players moved By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com | @m_sheldon | March 18th, 2016 + 97 COMMENTS GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- The latest wave of Reds Spring Training cuts that sent out eight players didn't just feature their top two prospects in outfielder Jesse Winker and starting pitcher Robert Stephenson -- it also provided more clarity to some of the battles for open spots. There are now 44 players left in camp. Of course, the roster needs to be at 25 players before Opening Day vs. the Phillies on April 4. Winker was re-assigned to Minor League camp, along with relievers Zack Weiss and Timothy Adleman and catcher Joe Hudson. Stephenson was optioned to Triple-A Louisville with pitcher Stephen Johnson and outfielder Kyle Waldrop. Left-handed pitcher Jonathan Sanchez, signed as a free agent to a Minor League deal shortly before Spring Training, was released. Winker, 22, was 5-for-15 (.333) in seven games. The No. 1 prospect in the organization, according to MLBPipeline.com, has been dealing with a left hip flexor strain after an outfield collision last week. Winker came to camp hoping to compete for the vacancy in left field, but he was viewed as a long shot behind more experienced players like Adam Duvall, Scott Schebler and Yorman Rodriguez. Tyler Holt and Rule 5 pick Jake Cave are also in the mix. Most likely, Winker will begin the 2016 season in Louisville. "He was better than the league [at Double-A] in the second half, where he struggled in the first half," Reds manager Bryan Price said. Stephenson, ranked as the No. 2 prospect, pitched well in his first two starts but was not as sharp in his last one. On Thursday vs. the Indians, he allowed six runs (five earned) and six hits over 2 1/3 innings. For Stephenson to get on the short list of candidates for a promotion during the season, Price would like to see him demonstrate better fastball command. "The games that were the most impressive -- against Cleveland in the 'B' game and the game against the Cubs in Mesa --- was the fact he was able to command the fastball down in the zone," Price said.