Brandon Phillips homers, Reds and White Sox call it a 5-5 tie after 9 innings

Reds, White Sox end in 5-5 tie after 9

GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Brandon Phillips got his first two hits of spring training, including a two-run homer, and the Cincinnati Reds blew a four-run lead in the ninth on Sunday before settling for a 5-5 tie with the Chicago White Sox.

The second baseman was 0 for 14 before he singled home Drew Stubbs. Phillips added a two-run homer off J.J. Putz in the seventh inning, putting the Reds ahead 5-1.

“Brandon got going today,” manager Dusty Baker said. “I knew he didn’t have a hit, but he was hitting the ball well. He wasn’t just topping the ball.”

Minor league reliever Jordan Smith started the ninth for Cincinnati and retired the first two batters. He gave up a walk and four consecutive hits, including three doubles. The managers decided to call it after nine innings because they had used all their pitchers.

“It shows you the importance of the walk,” Baker said. “Even if you have a big lead, you don’t want to put runners on. He’ll learn from this. He has the stuff and doesn’t like to get hit. But if he’s going to be a closer (eventually), he has to learn.”

Chicago starter John Danks struggled, giving up six hits, four walks and three runs — two earned — in 3 2-3 innings. Danks has been refining his pitches and wasn’t too concerned about the outing.

“I’ve been concentrating on getting my curveball over and getting left-handed hitters out,” Danks said. “This is the part of spring training that it gets a little monotonous. You have to catch yourself and make sure you don’t go through the motions. My line doesn’t look real well, but we got done what we wanted to.”

Left-hander Matt Maloney, who is competing for the fifth spot in Cincinnati’s rotation, gave up three hits in three scoreless innings, improving his chances. Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman also is in the competition for the final spot.

“I’m taking it one day at a time,” Maloney said. “I’ve learned from the last two springs that the more I think about things I can’t control, the worse I’m going to be. The competition is nice to see. Sometimes it can put a little pressure on guys, but you see what people are made of when they’re put in a situation like that.”

Putz, who signed a one-year, $3 million contract last December to fill a setup role, allowed his first runs of the spring. He threw a scoreless inning in each of his first three appearances.

NOTES: RH Aaron Harang, scheduled to start the Reds’ season opener, pitched 4 1-3 scoreless innings in a “B” game against the Cleveland Indians earlier in the day. Harang allowed two hits and two walks. … Reds utility player Chris Burke singled during the “B” game. It was his first appearance since he broke a knuckle in his right ring finger during a drill on Feb. 25. … Brothers John and Jordan Danks started against the Reds. Jordan is a non-roster outfielder with the White Sox.