The Reds' leadoff hitters continue to struggle at an important aspect of leading off -- getting on base.
They are hitting a combined .147/.192/.227. They are last in the National League in all three categories -- batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage.
Zack Cozart, the current leadoff man, is in a deep slide. He's 3 for his last 32. He was 0-for-4 in a 4-0 loss to the New York Yankees Friday. He's hitting .175 in the month of May.
Drew Stubbs hit .094 with a .147 on-base in his seven games in leadoff role. Brandon Phillips, the leadoff man on Opening Day, hit .208 with a .240 on-base in his six games in the leadoff spot. Reds manager Dusty Baker moved Phillips down after he injured his hamstring.
The Reds will be trying to get Cozart going.
"I don't believe in the word slump," Baker said. "I believe it's a very unfortunate period of time. He's up in the air too much and chasing bad pitches. When you go through a period like this when you take a pitch and it's a strike. You swing at it and it's a ball.
"I was watching Rickie Weeks when we played Milwaukee. He was 0-2 before he got in the box. Every time. I was watching David Wright. It was 2-0, 3-1 every time."
Baker is considering giving Cozart Saturday off.
"When you're in the leadoff spot, they pile up quickly," Baker said. "We've got to get him a little cheap hit and they'll start piling up. That's how it usually happens"
Cozart has sought advice.
"They tell me the same thing: You've got to get good pitches to hit," he said.
NOTES, QUOTES
Streak comes to an end for Votto
--1B Joey Votto went 0-for-4 Friday night to snap his 28-game streak of safely reaching base. It was the longest in the major leagues.
--LF Ryan Ludwick was out of the lineup Friday after getting hit by a pitch on Thursday. Ludwick was going to be used as the designated hitter.
--RHP Bronson Arroyo went 7 2/3 innings and allowed four runs. Three of them scored on the course of four pitches in the eighth. "A loss is loss," Arroyo said. "I was pleased to pitch into the eighth with a low pitch count. This team grinds out at-bats. But I would have liked to get out of the eighth with one run. Trying to come back from 4-0 when you're not hitting the whole game is impossible."
--3B Todd Frazier, from nearby Toms River, N.J., left 15 tickets for Friday night's game. The big crowd is coming Saturday -- a busload of family and friends will make the trip. "It's been fun," Frazier said.
--LHP Aroldis Chapman was unavailable Friday. He threw 35 pitches Thursday, his second straight day of work.
BY THE NUMBERS: 1 -- Number of times the Reds have been shut out this year.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "He had been getting him out all night. We're hoping he could get that out and we'd come in the 2-0. But he hung break ball. That was the ball game." -- Reds manager Dusty Baker on allowing Bronson Arroyo to pitch to Raul Ibanez in the eighth. Ibanez hit a two-run homer.
ROSTER REPORT
MEDICAL WATCH:
--LHP Bill Bray (strained left groin) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 19. He began a rehab assignment with Class AAA Louisville on April 29, but he moved back to extended spring training in Goodyear, Ariz., after one outing. He was still pitching in extended spring training as of mid-May, and there was no timetable for his return.
--3B Scott Rolen (strained left shoulder) went on the 15-day disabled list May 12.
--RHP Nick Masset (right shoulder inflammation) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 26. He still had not been cleared to throw as May 11.
--RHP Ryan Madson (Tommy John surgery in April 2012) went on the 60-day disabled list April 4. He is out for the season.
