
GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- The Reds slugged three home runs during a five-run bottom of the eighth inning to take a 6-5 win from the Indians on Friday afternoon.
Facing Indians reliever Dan Wheeler, who was informed earlier in the day that he made the 25-man roster, Todd Frazier started the rally with a solo home run to right field -- his club-leading fifth of the spring. The next batter, Juan Francisco, made it back-to-back long balls with a homer to right field -- his fourth during camp. After Willie Harris scored on Ryan Ludwick's RBI double to left field, Minor Leaguer Ryan LaMarre put Cincinnati ahead with a two-run home run to left field. Reds starter Johnny Cueto gave up two homers on what was otherwise a fine afternoon for the Cincinnati right-hander. Cueto gave up two runs and four hits over six innings with one walk, one hit batter and three strikeouts."I am ready for Opening Day," said Cueto, who will start on April 5 against the Marlins.
Indians starter Jeanmar Gomez, who is battling for the fifth spot in the rotation against Kevin Slowey, pitched 3 2/3 scoreless innings with two hits, two walks and four strikeouts. In the fourth inning, Gomez injured his hip covering first base when Jay Bruce grounded into a double play. Cleveland trainer Lonnie Soloff confirmed that Gomez exited the game with a hip injury. The Indians added three runs in the top of the seventh inning, with the big hit being Jose Lopez's two-run double to the wall in left-center field. Cincinnati scored its first run in the fifth inning after Devin Mesoraco hit a leadoff double to left-center field. Mesoraco advanced to third on a Cueto sacrifice and scored on Paul Janish's RBI groundout to the shortstop.Up next: Recently acquired right-hander Jairo Asencio is scheduled to make his Cactus League debut for the Indians on Saturday, when Cleveland hosts the Rangers in a 10:05 p.m. ET contest at Goodyear Ballpark. The Tribe got Asencio from the Braves on Thursday and plans on throwing him into the mix for the lone vacancy in the bullpen. Opening Day starter Justin Masterson is slated to start for the Indians.
Mark Sheldon is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Mark My Word, and follow him on Twitter @m_sheldon. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.




