Votto homers, Reds rally late for 6-5 victory over Giants

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) Joey Votto hit his first home run of the spring in the first inning and his Cincinnati Reds teammates went on to rally for five runs in the top of the ninth for a 6-5 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Friday night.

A two-run double by Chris Dominguez gave the Reds the go-ahead runs in the ninth.

Right-handers Tim Hudson (Giants) and Anthony DeSclafani (Reds) had solid efforts to start the game.

Hudson made his third start of the spring after having surgery to clean debris from his right ankle in early January. He gave up a run on one hit - Votto's home run - and struck out four in 3 2/3 innings.

DeSclafani, acquired in an offseason trade with Miami for right-hander Mat Latos, gave up three runs, one earned, on five hits with two walks and three strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings.

STARTING TIME

Reds: DeSclafani, the likely third man in manager Bryan Price's rotation, said he was fighting himself from the beginning.

''Mechanically, I just didn't feel right,'' he said. ''I could sort of tell (warming up before the game). I made some adjustments and felt better once I got in the game, but I still wasn't too crisp.''

Giants: Hudson, who was 9-13 in 31 starts in his first year with the team in 2014, said he ''felt pretty good with his pitches, particularly working out of the windup. It was the best I have thrown this spring. Everything was on rhythm, on time.''

A large part of that was due to the work he did in the bullpen in the days leading up to Friday night, making some adjustments.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Reds: The team is taking it slow with INF Todd Frazier, who has been dealing with a sore lower back. CF Billy Hamilton is being brought along at a moderate pace with a sore right shoulder. He was thrown out by Giants 3B Casey McGehee on a bang-bang bunt play in the third inning. Devin Mesoraco, who had a mild concussion on March 7 when hit in the mask by a foul tip, started behind the plate.

Giants: CF Angel Pagan continues to be sidelined by stiffness in his lower back. Pagan, who had back surgery in late in 2014, is expected to be out at least until Monday or Tuesday. C Andrew Susac has been slowed by a sore right wrist but is expected to take batting practice on Saturday after receiving a cortisone injection.

MUSICAL CHAIRS

The injuries to Pagan and RF Hunter Pence (broken arm) have forced the Giants to re-evaluate their group of OFs and who will play where, or whether they will need to make a trade.

The latest scenario has manager Bruce Bochy considering using 1B Brandon Belt some in LF. Gregor Blanco moved from LF to CF on Friday night and Travis Ishikawa started in LF.

Belt started 31 games there as a rookie in 2011 but has not played there since 2012, when he played four. If Belt goes to the OF, C Buster Posey could see time at 1B with Hector Sanchez or Andrew Susac catching.

ROSTER MOVES

Reds: RHP Matt Magill, RHP Keyvius Sampson and OF Kyle Waldrop were optioned to Triple-A Louisville.

Giants: RHP Chris Heston, RHP Cody Hall and OF Jarrett Parker were optioned to Triple-A Sacramento and INF Mitchell Delfino has been reassigned to minor-league camp.

UP NEXT

RHP Tim Lincecum is Saturday's scheduled starter against the Los Angeles Angels in Tempe, Ariz. Lincecum, making a bid for the fifth spot in the Giants' rotation, missed a start earlier in the spring due to neck stiffness, but appears to be back at full strength.