SAN FRANCISCO -- The Reds sorely needed starter Lisalverto Bonilla to eat up innings Saturday after their 17-inning affair on Friday night, when manager Bryan Price used six of his eight relievers in the loss to the Giants.
Bonilla, who hadn't made a Major League start since 2014 with the Rangers, gave the bullpen a welcomed spell, throwing all eight innings in the 3-1 loss and allowing three runs on six hits. He had five strikeouts on 98 pitches.
It was an encouraging showing for the 26-year-old right-hander, who compiled a 5.61 ERA in five starts with Triple-A Louisville before getting his shot in Cincinnati's maligned starting rotation.