Backups' bats propel Angels in rout of Reds

March 14th, 2016

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Johnny Giavotella hit a triple, drove in a couple of runs and joined three of his teammates with a multihit game Monday, as the Angels routed the Reds, 10-2, at Tempe Diablo Stadium.
The Angels reached double-digit runs and 15 hits by the end of the seventh inning despite not having Mike Trout, Albert Pujols, Kole Calhoun or Yunel Escobar in the lineup.
Utility infielder Cliff Pennington, who finished 2-for-3, gave the Angels a 2-1 lead with a safety squeeze in the second. In the fifth, the Angels plated six runs off Reds bullpen candidate Jumbo Diaz. C.J. Cron laced a two-run single, Giavotella added his two-run triple, Rafael Ortega hit a run-scoring single and Todd Cunningham finished the damage with an RBI double.

Giavotella, who hit a three-run homer Sunday, finished 2-for-3 and is batting .321. On defense, he has yet to make an error and has turned in a few nice plays.
Raisel Iglesias -- the Cuban right-hander signed to a seven-year, $27 million contract in June 2014 -- made his first Cactus League start, giving up a run on two hits and striking out a batter in his one inning. Pitching prospect Nate Smith started in place of veteran Angels starter Jered Weaver, who's recovering from neck tightness, and gave up a run on three hits in two innings.

The Reds scored on an RBI single by Eugenio Suarez in the first and a wild pitch by Angels prospect Victor Alcantara in the seventh. Tim Melville, a candidate for the Reds' rotation, followed Iglesias and was roughed up, ultimately charged with four runs on five hits and three walks in 3 1/3 innings.
"Good initially, I think he got tired at the end. The ball was up a lot," Reds manager Bryan Price said of Melville. "He got fatigued, walked some guys. That six-run inning, there was just a lot of bad counts. We're getting into the middle of the month now, so we certainly want to see the guys that are competing for the team -- if they're going to give up runs, give up hits but not because you're behind in the count a lot and then making elevation mistakes."
Center fielder Jose Peraza and shortstop Ivan DeJesus each had two hits for the Reds. The Angels' Huston Street, Javy Guerra, Jose Alvarez, Lucas Leutge and Yunesky Maya all threw scoreless innings.
Up next for Reds: Enjoying a generally solid spring, rotation candidate Brandon Finnegan will get another chance to showcase himself Tuesday. At 4:05 p.m. ET, Finnegan will be pitching against his former team, the Royals, at Goodyear Ballpark. In his last start, the lefty admitted to feeling lackluster as he allowed two runs and five hits over 2 2/3 innings vs. the Rockies. Keyvius Sampson, who has been limited to one outing because of triceps soreness, is expected to resume game action.
Up next for Angels:Andrew Heaney makes this second Cactus League start, opposite right-hander Cody Martin, when the Angels host the division-rival Mariners at Tempe Diablo Stadium on Tuesday. Game time for the Angels' fourth consecutive home contest is 1:10 p.m. PT. Heaney pitched two scoreless innings in his first spring start and is basically guaranteed a rotation spot at this point.