Votto, Phillips star as Reds double up White Sox

March 30th, 2016

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Joey Votto continued his scorching spring with a 4-for-4 game as the Reds claimed a 6-3 victory over the White Sox on Wednesday at Goodyear Ballpark. It was Cincinnati's sixth consecutive win.
Votto, who went 3-for-4 in his previous game Monday, also had two RBIs, including a sixth-inning single that drove in Billy Hamilton. He was on base in the third when Brandon Phillips hit a 0-2 pitch from Jose Quintana for a two-run homer to left field.
"Some really nice offensive days from the guys sitting there in the middle of the order," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "A lot of good things came out of today. It was really good to see these guys playing really well here towards the end of spring."

Quintana worked three-plus innings, allowing four earned runs, nine hits and three walks while striking out three.
"My arm is good. Everything's good," Quintana said. "That's all for Spring Training, and I'm ready right now to focus on the season. Today I missed a lot of the zone. I think I threw too many pitches out. I tried to continue practicing on my cutter, but that's all done. And I can just focus on the season."
With Opening Day starter Raisel Iglesias pitching in a Minor League game, Minor League pitcher Josh Smith was summoned to start and had a nice performance. Smith's only run and hit over five innings came in the fourth when Tyler Saladino slugged a 2-2 pitch to left field for a homer. Before that, he retired the first 10 Chicago batters.

Saladino added a RBI single in the two-run White Sox sixth against J.J. Hoover that scored J.B. Shuck. In the bottom of the sixth, the Reds rallied again, and after the Votto RBI hit, he scored two batters later on Eugenio Suarez's RBI single to center field.
Up next for the White Sox: The White Sox finish the exhibition portion of the schedule with two games in San Diego this weekend. On Friday at 9 p.m. CT on Gameday Audio, right-hander Mat Latos will start against the Padres.
Up next for the Reds: The Reds wrap up Cactus League play Thursday with a 3:05 p.m. ET finale as the visiting team vs. the Indians at Goodyear Ballpark. While Brandon Finnegan pitches in a Minor League game, prospect Cody Reed will return to the big league side for the start. Much of the regular lineup is expected to start, including Votto, Devin Mesoraco and Jay Bruce. The game will be broadcast on Gameday Audio.