Gray sharp in scoreless Cactus League debut

PEORIA, Ariz. – Reds starting pitcher Sonny Gray had to wait a little longer than he wanted to make his Cactus League debut with his new team. But he was happy with the outcome when he finally did pitch, dealing two scoreless innings during Cincinnati’s 6-2 loss to the Padres on Saturday night.

“It felt good. I made some good pitches and came away with no runs and no walks. I’m very, very pleased with it,” Gray said.

Acquired in a Jan. 21 trade from the Yankees and signed to a three-year, $30.5 million contract extension, Gray dealt with right elbow stiffness that caused him to be scratched from the first spring game on Feb. 23. It was not considered a serious issue and he quickly resumed throwing.

Gray gave up two hits and struck out three while throwing 32 pitches in his two innings against what was likely close to being San Diego’s Opening Day lineup. He was able to command all of his pitches.

“Sonny was really good. He looked great, actually,” Reds manager David Bell said. “He wanted to keep going. That’s a great sign. He had a lot more in the tank.”

In the bottom of the first inning after he allowed a one-out single, Gray struck out Manny Machado with a 3-2 curveball. The next batter, Franmil Reyes, chased a high 2-2 fastball and struck out to end the inning.

Gray opened the bottom of the second inning with a Wil Meyers double to left field. With one out, he executed a very nice curveball to strike out Francisco Mejia and was finished after Austin Hedges flied out to right field.

“I think I had five or six swings-and-misses in the zone. That’s a good indicator on the effectiveness and sharpness of your pitches,” Gray said. “I felt really good. Coming away from it, where we were a week to a week-and-a-half ago to now, I feel very good and feel very good moving forward.”

Gray, 29, went 11-9 with a 4.90 ERA in 30 games last season, including 23 starts. He spent a large part of the second half pitching out of the Yankees' bullpen after losing his rotation spot. Part of the revamped Reds rotation, he is expected to rebound well and play a big part in the club’s efforts to compete in the National League Central this season.

Pitching in a game for the first time since last season with New York, Gray admitted to feeling geared up with anticipation.

“I was nervous, in a good way,” he said. “I was excited more than nervous I guess. I love that feeling. That’s what’s so awesome about pitching, especially being a starter.”

Wood’s back still problematic

On the same day they had Gray back in a game, the Reds learned of a setback for fellow starting pitcher Alex Wood. The left-hander is dealing with a sore lower back for the second time following a two-inning, 36-pitch simulated game he threw on Friday. Wood has not pitched in a Cactus League game since Feb. 25.

“His back tightened up on him,” Bell said. “That’s not a good sign because that’s kind of what was going on before. We just have to re-evaluate it and maybe take a step back on his plan. There’s no major concern.”

It could be up to a week before Wood tries to pitch in another game. Bell wasn’t ready to speculate about his readiness for the beginning of the regular season.

“We’re not there yet,” Bell said. “But it definitely tightened up today, so a step back.”

Puig hustles and shimmies

In the fourth inning, Reds right fielder Yasiel Puig helped create a run with some hustling. Leading off, Puig hit a ball on the ground into left field and ran hard all the way for a stand-up double. The Reds' bench seemed to enjoy him doing a little shimmy with his behind on second base as Padres fans booed. Puig then took third base on a wild pitch and was able to race home on Nick Senzel’s sacrifice fly.

“Yasiel Puig’s baserunning, that’s awesome to see,” Bell said. “He’s playing hard. It’s really important to us as a team. Really good effort on his part.”

Trammell injures fingers

Reds outfielder prospect Taylor Trammell has been out of the lineup the last few days with two sprained fingers on his right hand. Somehow the fingers on Trammell’s glove hand got caught in the outfield fence during a drill.

“It was a little sore. He’s going to be fine,” Bell said. “He’ll be available to play probably by Monday or something. It was a little bit of a scare but turns out it wasn’t much.”

Trammell is ranked by MLB Pipeline as the Reds’ No. 2 prospect and No. 16 overall.

Simulated games for pitchers

On a practice field at the Reds' complex in Goodyear on Saturday afternoon, pitchers Michael Lorenzen, Sal Romano and Tony Santillan each worked in simulated games against Minor League hitters.

Romano and Santillan each pitched two innings, while Lorenzen pitched one. Why simulated games rather than Cactus League?

“There’s nothing more to it than the availability of innings, get the guys work that they needed,” Bell said. “I think they all looked good. They threw the ball well.”

Up next

The Reds host the D-backs Sunday at 4:05 p.m. ET at Goodyear Ballpark. Tanner Roark is set to make his fourth spring start, with Raisel Iglesias among those expected to appear in relief.