Eugenio Suarez had a memorable debut as the Reds’ starting third baseman, knocking in a pair of runs, and outfield prospect Scott Schebler homered and made a game-saving catch in the eighth to help Cincinnati claim a 6-5 Cactus League victory over the Indians on Tuesday afternoon at Goodyear Ballpark.
Right-hander Josh Tomlin opened Cleveland’s search for a fifth starter with a one-inning outing, in which he allowed one run and escaped further damage with double-play groundout. Lefty TJ House — also vying for the last spot in the rotation — gave up a pair of runs in a two-inning appearance following Tomlin’s start.
“I thought early he kind of had to pitch out of trouble right away,” Indians manager Terry Francona said of Tomlin. “But then he settled down and looked a little bit more like Josh. I think, like a veteran guy, as he gets into spring, you’ll see him be a little bit more crisp. I didn’t think his fastball was what it will be. He’s the first out of the chute. He’ll be fine.”
Tomlin admitted to having some Day 1 jitters.
“Every time I step on the baseball field, if I’m participating that day, I get nervous,” Tomlin said. “So, there were definitely some jitters going on, but it’s that good, anxious feeling of being ready to get out there and try to get to work.”
Suarez, who is taking over at the hot corner in light of Todd Frazier being dealt to the White Sox over the winter, delivered a pair of doubles. He doubled off Tomlin and scored on a base hit from Brandon Phillips in the first inning and later added a two-run, two-base hit in the third against House.
After Cleveland narrowed the game to one run on two errors, two walks and a wild pitch against A.J. Morris in the eighth, Schebler — ranked by MLBPipeline.com as the Reds’ No. 16 prospect — made a leaping catch on Robbie Grossman’s deep drive to left with the bases loaded and two outs, landing on his bottom on the warning track. Grossman did not know it was an out until Schebler produced the ball following a few moments on the ground.
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