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GOODYEAR, AZ. − It was an impressive day of power hitting for the Cincinnati Reds against the division rival Chicago Cubs. The Reds (5-4) pounded six home runs and 14 total hits in a 17-9 win over the Cubs at Goodyear Ballpark on Monday, March 2.
"Not a real good day to be a fly ball pitcher," Reds manager Terry Francona said.
Francona long ago identified the No. 2 position in his club's batting order as one of the key riddles to be solved this spring. Cincinnati needs to split up presumptive leadoff man, T.J. Friedl, and presumptive No. 3-hitter, Elly De La Cruz, Francona has said.
Matt McLain continued mounting his strong case to helm that critical spot in the lineup as he went 2-for-2 with two three-run homers, two walks, three runs scored and six RBI.
More: 'He's gone through the struggle.' Can Reds' Matt McLain bounce back?
McLain entered the game against the Cubs with a team-best six hits through just four games. Francona has said McLain would be ideal to hit second this year but couldn't be handed the role after his 2025 season (.220 batting average, .643 OPS).
“First and foremost, I’ve got to go out there and earn it after last year,” McLain said. “Which I want, but by the same token, wherever I hit in the lineup, I’m going to take my at-bat and survey what I need to do that at-bat to help the team win and do that.
“Whether that’s being in the two-hole, and T.J. hits a double, move him over, bunt him over, get a base hit, get on base – I just want to have good at-bats all year long, competitive at-bats. No matter where I am in the lineup.”
Workhorse Cincinnati pitcher Brady Singer was roughed up in his spring debut and didn't retire a batter until the sixth Cubs hitter in the top of the first inning.
Singer ended up working into the third inning. He was charged with five runs on seven hits with two walks. He threw 46 pitches and 28 went for strikes.
Francona wasn't alarmed by Singer's outing, saying catcher Jose Trevino reported encouraging things from his vantage point backstopping Singer.
"He will be fine," Francona said. "The ball came out OK. It was his first time (this spring)."
In addition to McLain's long blasts, Noelvi Marte hit a solo home run off the center field batter's eye, Sal Stewart hit a towering ball just to the left of the batter's eye and might have had the distance and height to clear the wall.
Rece Hinds and Garrett Hampson also went deep in the game.
All told, Cincinnati's home runs were measured to have traveled more than 2,000 combined feet − and that didn't include an estimate for the Hinds' homer, which MLB.com initially didn't list.
The Reds are off March 3. On March 4, they'll host the Cuban national team at Goodyear Ballpark in a tuneup game for the World Baseball Classic-bound Cubans. First pitch is scheduled for 3:05 p.m. ET.
MLB clubs around the Cactus and Grapefruit leagues will face WBC teams March 3 and March 4. Pool play begins March 4 in Tokyo at the Tokyo Dome when Chinese Taipei faces Australia (FS1, 10 p.m. ET).
Cuba was drawn into Pool A for the first stage of the WBC. It will face Canada, Colombia, Puerto Rica and Panama.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Matt McLain leads a Reds power surge against the Chicago Cubs
Continue reading...
"Not a real good day to be a fly ball pitcher," Reds manager Terry Francona said.
Matt McLain punctuates his case for hitting second in Reds' lineup
Francona long ago identified the No. 2 position in his club's batting order as one of the key riddles to be solved this spring. Cincinnati needs to split up presumptive leadoff man, T.J. Friedl, and presumptive No. 3-hitter, Elly De La Cruz, Francona has said.
Matt McLain continued mounting his strong case to helm that critical spot in the lineup as he went 2-for-2 with two three-run homers, two walks, three runs scored and six RBI.
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More: 'He's gone through the struggle.' Can Reds' Matt McLain bounce back?
McLain entered the game against the Cubs with a team-best six hits through just four games. Francona has said McLain would be ideal to hit second this year but couldn't be handed the role after his 2025 season (.220 batting average, .643 OPS).
“First and foremost, I’ve got to go out there and earn it after last year,” McLain said. “Which I want, but by the same token, wherever I hit in the lineup, I’m going to take my at-bat and survey what I need to do that at-bat to help the team win and do that.
“Whether that’s being in the two-hole, and T.J. hits a double, move him over, bunt him over, get a base hit, get on base – I just want to have good at-bats all year long, competitive at-bats. No matter where I am in the lineup.”
Brady Singer hit hard in '26 Cactus League debut for Reds
Workhorse Cincinnati pitcher Brady Singer was roughed up in his spring debut and didn't retire a batter until the sixth Cubs hitter in the top of the first inning.
Singer ended up working into the third inning. He was charged with five runs on seven hits with two walks. He threw 46 pitches and 28 went for strikes.
Francona wasn't alarmed by Singer's outing, saying catcher Jose Trevino reported encouraging things from his vantage point backstopping Singer.
"He will be fine," Francona said. "The ball came out OK. It was his first time (this spring)."
Reds put on a show of power
In addition to McLain's long blasts, Noelvi Marte hit a solo home run off the center field batter's eye, Sal Stewart hit a towering ball just to the left of the batter's eye and might have had the distance and height to clear the wall.
Rece Hinds and Garrett Hampson also went deep in the game.
All told, Cincinnati's home runs were measured to have traveled more than 2,000 combined feet − and that didn't include an estimate for the Hinds' homer, which MLB.com initially didn't list.
Next up for Cincinnati: A WBC exhibition
The Reds are off March 3. On March 4, they'll host the Cuban national team at Goodyear Ballpark in a tuneup game for the World Baseball Classic-bound Cubans. First pitch is scheduled for 3:05 p.m. ET.
MLB clubs around the Cactus and Grapefruit leagues will face WBC teams March 3 and March 4. Pool play begins March 4 in Tokyo at the Tokyo Dome when Chinese Taipei faces Australia (FS1, 10 p.m. ET).
Cuba was drawn into Pool A for the first stage of the WBC. It will face Canada, Colombia, Puerto Rica and Panama.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Matt McLain leads a Reds power surge against the Chicago Cubs
Continue reading...
