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Reds Top Futures Team in Historic Game in Dayton

April 4, 2009 - Midwest League (MWL1) - Dayton Dragons News Release


Dayton, Ohio-An overflow crowd of 8,956 saw five home runs and 25 hits on Saturday afternoon in the historic Reds Futures Game at Fifth Third Field in Dayton. The Reds defeated the Futures Team 9-6 in their final pre-season game prior to Monday's home opener in Cincinnati.

Edwin Encarnacion and Jerry Hairston, Jr. each belted mammoth two-run home runs for the Reds. Encarnacion's blast in the third inning nearly cleared the batter's eye in straight-away center field. Luis Bolivar also added a two-run home run for the Reds as they built an 8-1 lead through seven innings.

The Futures Team rallied for five runs in the top of the eighth to pull to within two runs. Chris Valaika drilled a three-run home run to make it 8-4, and Todd Frazier added a tremendous two-run homer that landed on the roof of the left field concessions building to pull the Futures Team to within two. With the tying run at the plate, Josh Roenicke entered the game for Cincinnati and struck out Sean Henry to retire the side.

The Reds added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth before Roenicke pitched a scoreless ninth for the save.

Reds starter Johnny Cueto allowed one run on four hits in four innings to earn the win. He walked one and struck out one in his final spring tune up.

Futures Team starter Jordan Smith took the loss. He allowed six runs on seven hits in four innings of work.

Encarnacion and Hairston each had two hits among the Reds' 11. Frazier, a member of the Dayton Dragons in 2007 and '08, led the Futures Team with three hits including the two-run homer. Zack Cozart, also a member of the Dragons in '07-'08, also added three hits.

The Reds Futures Game featured a battled between the Reds and a collection of their top prospects from the Single-A, Double-A, and Triple-A levels. Twenty-two of the 29 players on the Futures Team roster have played for the Dragons while another nine members of the Reds current roster played for the Dragons.

The Dragons open the Midwest League season on Thursday at Fifth Third Field against the Great Lakes Loons.

Notes: Reds Hall-of-Famers Eric Davis, Ken Griffey, Tommy Helms, and Jim O'Toole served as honorary coaches for the Futures Team.


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