GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Even if it was a Spring Training game with low stakes, Reds starting pitcher Tanner Roark was still pretty geared up ahead of his debut in a new uniform against the Indians on Saturday.

“As soon as 11:30 [a.m.] hit, I got the normal butterflies in the stomach and all that good stuff,” Roark said. “I feel that’s how everybody should get. It’s our job and our job is to go out there and win every single game. It shows that you care and you’re passionate about your teammates and winning.”

Roark’s time on the mound didn’t last long as the right-hander breezed through a perfect top of the first inning while using only seven pitches. Cincinnati went on to play Cleveland to a 3-3 tie at Goodyear Ballpark.

“He looked very comfortable, throwing strikes and getting ahead. He made it look very easy,” Reds manager David Bell said.

Acquired in a December trade from the Nationals for reliever Tanner Rainey, the sinkerballer Roark likes to be as pitch-efficient as possible.

“The less pitches, the better,” Roark said. “You want to get the hitters in there as fast as possible. The biggest thing is once we get deeper into games, if we score a run, the challenge is how fast you can get them back in the dugout to keep that going.

“A shut-down inning, quick, gives me strength just because it’s a weight off my shoulders because there’s a run, and it also gives me more incentive to go out there after we’re done hitting to work as efficiently as I possibly can to get us back in there to score more runs.”

Pitch clock used for first time

For the first time in Spring Training, a 20-second pitch clock was in use for all games. In the early slate of games, the timer will be in operation without enforcement as players and umpires adjust to the new system. Eventually, umpires will issue reminders to pitchers and batters who violate the rule and inform the dugout of a violation.

Depending on negotiations with the MLB Players Association, umpires will be instructed to begin levying ball-strike penalties for violations in games near the end of camp. It has yet to be determined if the pitch clock will be used during the regular season.

“I like the structure of what it’s going to look like in Spring Training, where the first third of the games are just going to be having it out there,” Bell said. “By later in the spring, we’ll know if it will actually be a reality. Then I’ll have more thoughts on it. Players seem to really adapt and adjust. That was smart just to have it out there and let guys get used to it.”

During his inning of work, Roark often began his delivery well before the 20 seconds were up. That was intentional and part of his history of working quickly.

“Don’t give anybody time to think,” Roark said of opposing hitters.

Some players will remain at the complex

Under former manager Bryan Price, the entire Spring Training roster was expected to be in the dugout for all games at Goodyear Ballpark and stay for at least five innings.

Bell is not keeping that rule this year, especially after rainy weather curtailed workouts the past couple of days.

“We're going to try to make the best use of time,” Bell said. “Some days, it's a good day to not do much and have a recovery day. Some days when you stay back and don't go on the road or even a home game, those are some of the best days of work you can get individually, defensively, get extra swings. Then they're done for the day. Then it becomes a great work day and a recovery day.”

Up next

The Reds will travel to Tempe for Sunday’s 3:05 p.m. ET game vs. the Angels. Regulars Scooter Gennett and Jose Peraza will be on the trip, and Sal Romano is scheduled to start on the mound. Cody Reed, Matt Wisler, Anthony Bass, Lucas Sims and Vladimir Gutierrez are among those slated to follow from the bullpen.