SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Cincinnati's project to turn hard-throwing Aroldis Chapman into a starter got off to a strong start Thursday in the split squad Reds' 4-3 loss to the Colorado Rockies.
Chapman has 16 starts in the minors but was derailed by injuries when he tried to make the conversion to starter last spring. He started and faced the minimum six batters in his two innings. Chapman threw 19 pitches, struck out one and didn't allow the ball out of the infield. Chapman went 5-5 out of the bullpen last season with 38 saves and 122 strikeouts in 71 2/3 innings.
Devin Mesoraco hit a two-run single for the Reds to break a 1-1 tie in the seventh. Colorado retook the lead in the bottom half on an error.
Nolan Arenado and DJ LeMahieu had RBI-doubles for the Rockies, who also turned an around-the-horn triple play
Juan Nicasio allowed no hits in two innings with a pair of strikeouts for Colorado and Jeff Francis worked three innings, allowing one hit with a strikeout.
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