Major League Baseball

Diamondbacks 8, Reds 7

Published Mar. 19, 2012 2:18 a.m. ET

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A long shot to make the Diamondbacks, Adam Eaton is impressing Kirk Gibson.

Eaton had a double and triple, driving in three runs to lead an Arizona split squad to an 8-7 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday.

''Eaton's aggressive. I'm giving him a lot of innings while he's here,'' the Diamondbacks manager said. ''He's got a great attitude.''

Chris Young hit two doubles for Arizona. Left-hander Tyler Skaggs, the Diamondbacks top pitching prospect, allowed one run on two hits over three innings.

Skaggs was the first pick of the Los Angeles Angels in 2009. He was included in the deal that sent Dan Haren to the Angels.

''I felt much better with where my curveball was today,'' Skaggs said. ''I could have put away more hitters my last outing if I had that pitch working.''

Skaggs is probably not going to make the team out of spring training but Gibson wants to get a good look at him.

''His curveball is coming. That's a plus pitch for him. We are going to give him another start,'' Gibson said.

Skaggs is scheduled to pitch four innings against Kansas City on Saturday.

Scott Rolen hit a three-run, opposite field home run off Joe Patterson, his first of the spring.

The home run was encouraging for Cincinnati. Rolen's left shoulder is healthy after surgery. He was limited to 65 games last season and hit five home runs in 2011 after hitting 20 in 2010.

''Scotty's hitting the ball well,'' Dusty Baker said. ''The ball was up in the wind but I don't care he still blasted it.''

Mike Leake allowed a run on two hits and a walk in four innings, his longest outing of the spring.

''When I was missing, I was missing small,'' Leake said. ''I'm building my stamina right now, trying to get up and down for a few innings like in the regular season.

Leake played in the majors without building innings in the minor leagues. The Reds shut him down before the season ended the last two years.

Arizona scored seven runs off Clay Zavada and Sam LeCure in the fifth inning.

''He was probably a little amped up facing his former team,'' Baker said. ''He was overthrowing.''

Zavada is trying to comeback after elbow surgery.

Todd Frazier, a candidate for a utility role hit his team leading fourth home run of the spring off Evan Marshall in the ninth inning.

NOTES: The Reds optioned IF Kristopher Negron, IF Neftali Soto and RHP Josh Judy to Triple A Louisville. IF Didi Gregorius, IF Henry Rodriguez and RHP Pedro Villarreal were optioned to Double A Pensacola. IF/OF Donald Lutz and RHP Kyle Lotzkar were sent to high A Bakersfield. The Reds reassigned C Tucker Barnhart, RHP Nick Christiani, RHP Daniel Corcino, C Brian Esposito, RHP Sean Gallagher, LHP Donnie Joseph, RHP Chad Reineke and RHP Brett Tomko to the minor league camp. ... Bobby Borchering the Diamondbacks first pick in the 2010 draft lined out in his only plate appearance.

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