Bailey doesn’t last two innings in return to mound
WASHINGTON — The hope was that Homer Bailey could come in and help solidify the Reds’ rotation, rest the team’s bullpen and help end the team’s recent slide.
The only one of those things that happened was that Bailey came into the game on Saturday at Nationals Park.
In his first start since last August and just his ninth since the end of the 2014 season, Bailey didn’t make it out of the second inning, allowing eight runs on six hits and three walks in an 18-3 loss to the Nationals.
"I had no excuses," Bailey said. "I just didn't pitch well today. That's all I can say."
Bailey, coming off surgery to remove bone spurs in his right elbow this February, made three rehab starts to prepare for Saturday’s start and gave no indications of the troubles ahead. In those three starts, he allowed just two runs over 16 ⅔ innings and walked three batters.
Saturday, Bailey gave up a leadoff single to the Nationals’ Trea Turner and walked Brian Goodwin. He did strike out Bryce Harper for the first out of the inning, bringing up Ryan Zimmerman, who drove a double into the cap in right-center to give the Nationals a 2-0 lead.
As bad as Bailey’s first inning back was, his second inning was worse.
Michael Taylor led off the inning with a single, followed by a sacrifice bunt by Nationals starter Joe Ross. Once again, Turner singled (driving in a run), Bailey walked Goodwin and then struck out Harper.
Bailey didn’t give up a hit to Zimmerman this time, but walked him. Murphy then cleared the bases with a double, making it 6-0. Although Bonilla had been warming up, he wasn’t ready before Bailey faced Anthony Rendon, who singled in a run to give the Nationals a 7-0 lead and end Bailey’s night.
Bailey’s final line, 1 inning, six hits, eight runs, three walks and two strikeouts. He also had an error. He threw a total of 61 pitches, 34 strikes.
Reliever Lisalverto Bonilla surrendered five runs on eight hits, including both of Michael Taylor's home runs.