Oakland Athletics Beat Cincinnati Behind Brandon Moss, Josh Reddick Homers; 4 Scoreless From Pen

Mar 25, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Oakland Athletics pitcher Tommy Milone throws in the fourth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Tommy Milonewas good enough in his final start in Arizona this spring and was backed by four scoreless innings from the bullpen as the Oakland Athletics beat the Cincinnati Reds 8-4 at Phoenix Municipal Stadium on Tuesday.

Brandon MossandJosh Reddickhomered for the A’s (13-12), while Milone (2-1) surrendered four runs, three earned, on five hits and a walk in five innings, striking out two.

It was the Reds (12-16) who played long ball at the start, taking a 1-0 lead onBrandon Phillips’ homer off Milone in the top of the first.

It took one swing by Moss to erase the lead in the second.Yoenis Cespedesdrew a leadoff walk andDerek Norrissingled to left to start the inning. After Reddick lined out, Moss crushed a delivery fromJeff Francis(0-3) to center field for a three-run shot. It was Moss’ fourth home run this spring.

The Reds tied it in the top of the third on aBilly Hamiltonsacrifice fly and aTodd FrazierRBI single.

Josh DonaldsonandJed Lowriewalked to start the bottom of the third and after Donaldson moved up to third on Cespedes’ fly out, Norris lined a single to left to give Oakland the lead back at 4-3.

The Reds tied it with an unearned run in the fourth.Zack Cozartreached on an error by Donaldson at third base and moved to third whenEric Sogardcouldn’t come up withJason Bourgeois’ grounder to second. Hamilton hit his second sacrifice fly of the afternoon to tie it.

The offending fielders teamed up to get the run back in the bottom of the inning, though. Sogard reached on an infield single with one out and scored on Donaldson’s double to center.

Reddick belted his second Cactus League homer of the year in the fifth off Reds relieverTrevor Bellto give Oakland a 6-4 lead.

The A’s piled on two more runs in the seventh off relieverSam LeCure. Donaldson singled, ended up at second on a one-out grounder by Cespedes and scored when Norris doubled to center. Reddick followed with a single up the middle to score Norris.

Jim Johnsonworked around two walks in a scoreless sixth for Oakland,Luke Gregersonstruck out two of the three hitters he faced in the seventh,Sean Doolittleallowed a hit in the eighth andAndrew Wernerrecorded a walk and a strikeout in the ninth.

Norris was 3-for-4, raising his Cactus League average to .436, while Donaldson and Reddick had two hits apiece for the A’s.

The A’s will conclude 31 years of spring training at Phoenix Muni on Wednesday when they host the Angels at 12:05 p.m. Pacific. Oakland will be moving to renovated HoHoKam Stadium in Mesa next spring.

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