PEORIA, Ariz. -- For his first time pitching in a game while wearing a Reds uniform, left-hander Alex Wood wanted to impress. Instead, Wood labored somewhat during his one inning in Monday's 11-3 loss to the Mariners.

Wood gave up three earned runs and two hits with one walk. He went into full counts multiple times, including Shed Long with a leadoff walk. Following a wild pitch that advanced Long, Edwin Encarnacion hit an RBI double. With two outs, Domingo Santana crushed a first pitch to left-center field for a two-run home run.

“I would have liked a better start for sure, but that’s what Spring Training is for,” Wood said. “You come to a new place and you want to make a good first impression, even if it is in spring. Obviously, three runs in the first are not what you want, but physically, I felt all right. So, I will get some work in the bullpen and getting ready for the next one.”

Wood threw 32 pitches with 17 strikes. He was part of the seven-player trade that also brought Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp from the Dodgers in December.

“I wasn’t in the zone as much as I typically am,” he said. “I’ve been working on a few things. I tried to go out there and throw and get some of the rust off.”

In Los Angeles last season, Wood was 9-7 with a 3.68 ERA and 1.21 WHIP in 33 games (including 27 starts). He switched to pitching solely from the stretch, but has brought back the windup for 2019.

“It’s not as big of a deal as anybody makes it. It’s another component I added back in for a different look,” Wood said.

Votto faces Kikuchi

In his Mariners debut, Japanese left-hander Yusei Kikuchi pitched two innings with two unearned runs. His one strikeout came against Joey Votto in the first inning. On a curveball, Votto took a poor swing for strike three.

“Oh my God. Curveball? Very good curveball,” Votto said. “It's very surprising. In the league right now, there are not many pitchers that throw a curveball like it. Ryu for the Dodgers, Clayton Kershaw from the Dodgers. Maybe a couple of others that throw a very traditional curveball like that from the left-hand side. It has lots of potential.”

Kikuchi enjoyed the chance to face Votto.

“It’s Spring Training, so I’m sure he’s tuning up his swing as well,” Kikuchi said through translator Justin Novak. “But to strikeout a hitter of Votto’s caliber, I’m really happy about the result today.”

Farmer gets start at shortstop

Kyle Farmer is primarily a catcher but can play five positions. That includes shortstop, where he started on Monday against Seattle. It’s not often that a catcher has the skills to also play shortstop.

“It really is [rare],” Reds manager David Bell said. “It’s all about footwork. He has really, really good feet. He loves the position. He really enjoys it. It will be fun watching him play.”

Farmer, who arrived with Wood from the Dodgers and is trying to earn a bench spot, has logged only 10 Minor League games at shortstop and none in the Major Leagues. He can also play first base, second base and third base.

“The guys who have been working with him [are] Barry [Larkin], Delino [DeShields]. Actually, Barry spent a lot of time with him this spring and was very impressed with his footwork,” Bell said.

Injury report

Starting pitcher Sonny Gray, who was scratched from Saturday’s start with right elbow stiffness, threw on flat ground Sunday. Gray hasn’t yet been scheduled for a side bullpen session or his first game.

“Progressing,” Bell said of Gray. “We’ll need to progress him with the side [sessions] and maybe a live BP.”F

Infielder Alex Blandino is still working himself back from reconstructive right knee surgery and remains on track in camp, but he isn’t scheduled yet for game action.

“It’s probably not fast enough for him,” Bell said. “I know he sees the finish line. He’s obviously delayed for this camp and Spring Training games. Don’t exactly have a date when he’ll be ready for game action or ready for the season.”

Worth noting

• Catcher Tucker Barnhart was scratched from Monday’s lineup. Barnhart later wrote on Twitter that his wife, Sierra, had to be rushed to the hospital for because of a likely kidney stone. Prospect Chris Okey replaced Barnhart in the lineup.

• Reds pitching consultant and former Red Sox manager John Farrell arrived in camp Monday. Farrell, who served as a scout and advisor for Cincinnati last season and interviewed for the managerial vacancy in October, will primarily work with Minor League pitchers but could also help out in big league camp.

• Former Reds manager Lou Piniella chose not to return this season to his role as a senior advisor to baseball operations.

“He’s still a phone call away,” Reds president of baseball operations Dick Williams said.

Up next

The Reds return to Goodyear Ballpark Tuesday for a 3:10 p.m. ET game vs. the Giants. Bullpen candidate Brandon Finnegan is getting the expected one-inning start, with Amir Garrett, Zach Duke, Jared Hughes and David Hernandez scheduled to get work as well.