In the split-squad action today — it was a split result. The Reds won their home game, 5-1, over the Royals. Over at Scottsdale, the Chris Speier led team took a 6-3 loss to the Giants.

*In his second start of spring, Homer Bailey was solid vs. KC with three scoreless innings. Bailey gave up one hit and one walk but also picked up two double plays.

“I thought Homer was good,” manager Dusty Baker said. “He had good velocity and good location. He threw the ball very well today.”

*The Reds were shut down over the first two perdect innings by Royals lefty Danny Duffy, who struck out his last five in a row. The bats came alive with four runs in the fourth inning — all with two outs. After three singles, including a RBI hit by Scott Rolen, Donald Lutz crushed a three-run homer to right-center field – his second long ball of spring.

“The guys played well. We got some timely hitting,” Baker said. “Big Lutz had a big three-run homer.”

*Josh Judy replaced Bailey and pitched two scoreless innings. Andrew Brackman looked good in the eighth with one hit allowed and two strikeouts.

*Against the Giants, it was six up and six down for Aroldis Chapman in his start. Chapman struck out two.

*Sam LeCure was touched for four earned runs, five hits and one walk over two innings vs. the Giants.

*On Saturday, the Reds will face the A’s in Papago Park and will get to see Cuba-defecting center fielder Yoenis Cespedes in his first big league spring game. Cespedes, who will bat second, will be welcomed to the show by Johnny Cueto. That should be a fun matchup.

Attendance in Goodyear: 2,105

First pitch weather in Goodyear: 77 degrees

Good morning/afternoon from Goodyear. Today, our MLB.com youth reporter Meggie Zahneis arrived to camp for a few days and she’s off to a great start. Meggie has interviews done already with Brandon Phillips, Dusty Baker, Sean Marshall, Mat Latos, Brett Tomko and Andrew Brackman in the span of 45 minutes. Be on the look out for her stuff in the coming days.

For the here and now, here are some quick AM notes:

*Ryan Madson (elbow) does not have a scheduled appearance in a game as of yet.

“We’re just moving forward with playing catch,” pitching coach Bryan Price said. “Once he can show he’s done everything he can do on flat ground, he’ll graduate to a mound.”

*Juan Francisco (calf), who hit a two-run home run in Thursday’s game vs. the Brewers, is in the lineup again at Scottsdale for the Giants.

“He’s getting better. He’s moving around better,” Baker said. “He’s working hard to get into shape, which he should have been already. He’s progressing.”

*Assuming he makes the club, RHP Logan Ondrusek will likely have the same role as he had last year. Ondrusek had a career-high 66 games last season but missed two weeks with a strained forearm.

“We’d hopefully like to limit the number of appearances he has,” Baker said. “Sometimes, it can’t be helped. Ondrusek did well. When he was strong, he was really good. There were periods when we had use him.”

Reds lineup vs. Royals (at Goodyear)

Stubbs 8

Harris 4

Votto 3

Bruce 9

Rolen 5

Lutz 7

Navarro DH

Hanigan 2

Janish 6

Bailey 1

 Reds lineup vs. Giants (at Scottsdale)

Phillips 4

Cozart 6

Ludwick 7

Francisco 5

Heisey 9

Cairo DH

Frazier 3

Mesoraco 2

Phipps 8

Chapman 1

More later…

*It’s early in camp and the Reds have three of their seven projected bullpen guys down with injuries — Nick Masset (shoulder), Bill Bray (groin) and Ryan Madson (elbow). Manager Dusty Baker isn’t worried, however.

“Worrying does no good,” Baker said. “Every camp has somebody. You’d rather have it happen earlier than late. The doctor assured us it’s nothing serious.”

*If one pitcher was the most serious of the three, it would be Bray. He had a setback yesterday and is shut down from pitching off a mound for now. There’s no timetable for a return yet. And this could create a very interesting subplot — would the Reds consider moving Aroldis Chapman back to a bullpen role? Baker did not rule it out.

“There’s going to come a point where we’ll have to decide if he’ll be ready in time or not,” Baker said of Bray. “It’s a luxury that we can potentially have three lefties in the bullpen [including] Chapman if we need him. That’s a pretty good backup plan.”

*In talking to Masset, who exited in the middle of the seventh inning after 28 pitches, he appeared at ease after seeing Dr. Tim Kremchek.

“I don’t feel like it’s a big issue,” Masset said. “It’s a lot of tightness and soreness. I’ve never really had a shoulder injury before in my life. It comes with spring training, trying to get it going and throwing 110 percent. Sometimes your arm doesn’t catch up to the intensity you’re trying to throw with. It’s a small bump in the road right now.

“We’ll just take a few days off from throwing, stretch it and treat it. Hopefully , I will be right back to where I needed to be.”

*SS Zack Cozart has been limited because of a sore right arm, not the one that he had elbow surgery on last summer.

“We’re guarding him. He’s ailing a little bit,” Baker said. “His throwing arm is a little sore so we’re taking it easy on him.”

*Look for a story later today on Drew Stubbs, who had a season he’d like to forget last year in many ways.

“Obviously at the end of the year, you’re left with a bitter taste in your mouth,” Stubbs said. “I think whenever you can take a few months off, clean the slate and start over fresh, you look back at it as a learning experience. You move forward and think ‘what did I do good? What did I do bad?’ Take the positives and try to expound on those. Take the negatives and look at those as opportunities to improve.”

Here is Thursday’s lineup vs. the Brewers at their complex in Maryvale.

Valaika 4

Janish 6

Heisey 7

Francisco 5

Cairo 3

Phipps 8

Frazier 9

Hanigan 2

Negron 5

Leake 1

More later…

The Reds bats were rather quiet today during a 5-0 loss to the Padres. Cincinnati collected only three hits in the game and struck out 13 times.

“They had our number today,” Reds manager Dusty Baker said. “They were striking us out pretty good, especially young guys. It’s that time when pitchers are starting to get their equalizer over, the breaking ball. Everybody is ready to hit that fastball. Now they’re getting their breaking ball over a little better.”

*Bronson Arroyo’s line: 3 ip, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 0 K. He pitched and felt pretty good today. Although he gave up first-pitch homer to ex-Red Jeremy Hermida in the first, he was moving through the aggressive swinging Padres lineup quickly. Arroyo’s pitch count was low enough after two innings, that he was given a third inning of work.

“My body definitely felt better, more lively and less aching than the first time out in years past,” Arroyo said. “I felt like I’ve been out there, not as much for my feel of the game, but physically more than just one time. I felt like the ball was coming out of my hand than it has the last couple of years.”

*Padres starter Cory Luebke struck out four in two innings. His only two base runners, Zack Cozart on a first-inning walk and Jay Bruce on a second-inning double, were erased by pickoff plays.

*Bill Bray did not finish his simulated game against hitters because he felt tightness in his left groin again.

“It was barking a little bit,” Bray said. “I could have stayed out there bur we didn’t want to aggravate it anymore.”

*If Bray is out of action much longer, one has to wonder if he’ll be ready when the season starts. That could potentially open a spot for another lefty — like Ron Mahay or Clay Zavada. Mahay, who gave up two runs and three hits his first time out, gave up two runs and three hits with a walk today in relief. Nick Hundley crushed a three-run homer to center field against Mahay.

*Nick Masset pitched two-thirds of an inning and gave up one hit with two walks and a strikeout. Masset did not get through the seventh and was picked up by Logan Ondrusek, who worked 1 1/3 hitless innings with one walk and one strikeout.

“We got him out of there as a precaution,” Baker said of Masset. “He said he was feeling a little tender. He had 28 pitches in the middle of the inning and threw a bunch of breaking balls.”

*Closer Ryan Madson (right elbow irritation) feels good after playing catch the last couple of days.

“Hopefully I will get off of the mound here the next couple of days, as soon as my arm feels 100 percent again,” Madson said. “We want to make sure everything is out of there so it doesn’t creep back in.”

*Former Red Yonder Alonso was 1-for-3 with a leadoff double in the fourth inning.

*First-pitch temperature: 63 degrees. It was windy. Later in the game, we could see dust clouds spinning and blowing across the dirt fields beyond the ballpark.

*Attendance: 1,643

It could be another interesting day out here with high winds and dust blowing about. On my drive back from the ballpark yesterday, there was big brown dust cloud in the air. It made the sun look red. It should be more of the same today but cooler in the low to mid 60s.

Reds lineup vs. Padres (ss)

Phillips 4

Cozart 6

Votto 3

Rolen 5

Bruce 9

Ludwick 7

Stubbs 8

Mesoraco 2

Esposito DH

Arroyo 1

Updated AM Notes:

*When Dusty Baker was asked for an update on RHP Ryan Madson (right elbow irritation), his medical report sheet did not include the closer’s name. Madson did play catch on Tuesday.

“He’s doing better. No news is good news,” Baker said. “I read faces and he didn’t look worried. You can usually see when a guy is worried.”

*LHP Bill Bray (groin) was slated to face hitters in simulated action today. Bray will pitch against lefty hitter Didi Gregorious and righty Chris Valaika.

*3B Juan Francisco (right calf) is scheduled to see some action at third base today vs. the Padres.

*When asked about Brandon Phillips being the leadoff man this instead of Drew Stubbs, Baker did not say that decision was neccessary written in cement (I’m borrowing a phrase Jerry Narron often used)

“Who knows? Everything is subject to change, unless you’ve got Rickey Henderson usually hitting leadoff,” Baker said. “It’s Spring Training. Brandon was my leadoff man at the end of last year. Stubbs would my epitome of my leadoff man. We’re just trying to take a little pressure off of him. Brandon is the only guy I’ve got that can hit all over the lineup. There aren’t many guys like that. Everybody has a comfort zone and where they prefer to hit in the lineup.”

*After he batted .194 with Tampa Bay in 2010 and .193 with the Dodgers last season, C Dioner Navarro knows he has a lot to prove. Navarro, a non-roster player this spring, said there weren’t many options presented to him this winter and felt fortunate that the Reds called.

“I’m so glad that I have a uniform and so glad I have a job,” said Navarro, whose best season with the Rays was when he batted .295 in 2008. “Whether it’s Triple-A, Double-A, or A ball,  I just want to get back to playing. I love playing. I love doing this. I want to keep doing this as long as I can. I still think I can produce in Major League Baseball. I have to keep working and proving myself.”

The Reds unblemished spring ended with an 8-6 loss to the Mariners on Tuesday. Cincinnati’s six runs were scored on only six hits.

Here are some items of interest:

*It was Mat Latos’ Reds spring debut today. His line: 2 ip, 2 H, 1 BB, 0 K. 31 pitches/16 strikes. There were a couple of long drives to the warning track, but Latos was pleased overall and got his work in. I will have a longer story on Latos today on MLB.com/Reds.com.

“It was exciting to get in there and have live hitters up there swinging,” Latos said. “Everything in general needs work. It doesn’t matter who you are. I’m pretty sure Roy Halladay doesn’t take a day off, regardless. After the perfect game he threw, I’m pretty sure he went back to work the next day. I will keep up with the arm-care stuff, getting all my work done with lifting and running and conditioning.”

*Brett Tomko followed Latos: 1 ip, 3 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 K. Two runs scored on a sacrifice fly that was dropped in the sun by on a tough error for center fielder Daryl Jones. Two more sac flies followed.

“The sun and wind was wreaking havoc. That’s always the case here,” Dusty Baker said. “He had some balls over the heart of the plate. The sun and the wind affected Tomko’s performance today.”

*Andrew Brackman: 2 ip, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K

*It was a good day for Denis Phipps, who replaced Jones in center field. Phipps crushed a three-run homer to left field on a 2-2 pitch in the fifth inning. In the bottom of the sixth after making a catch, Phipps threw out Stefan Romero running back to first base for a double play.

*Juan Francisco entered the game in the fifth as the DH and was 0-for-3 with a fly to right field, a groundout to the shortstop and a GIDP in the 9th.

*Chris Valaika entered the game in the sixth and was 1-for-2 while playing third base. Valaika blooped a RBI single to right field in his first at-bat and reached on an error to third base.

*Donald Lutz got his first spring homer with a shot to right field on a 3-1 pitch in the eighth inning.

*Because they are opening the regular season in Tokyo vs. the A’s later this month, the Mariners started their camp earlier.

“You can tell that they’re a little bit advanced over us as far as sharpness – both the pitchers and hitters,” Baker said. “That extra 8-9 days they’ve had in camp, you could really tell by the breaking balls and stuff like that. We had action on winning anyway.”

*The Reds will be featured tonight at on MLB Network’s “30 Clubs in 30 Days” episode that airs 8 p.m. ET. Check local listings for re-airings.

*First-pitch temperature: 75 degrees. Baker wasn’t kidding about the wind. It was breezy and dust and dirt was blowing all over.

*Attendance: 4,093

*Juan Francisco is slated to get an at-bat in today’s game after he’s been out with a strained right calf. Dusty Baker made his disappointment in Francisco crystal clear and that he wasn’t thrilled with him this spring.

“He’s got time but he’s behind,” Baker said. “Part of that is if he had rehabbed properly in the winter time. Part of that is he came into camp as one of the few guys overweight. The guys that came in ready, I can’t shelve them because he didn’t. I’m trying him ready the best I can. We need him.”

Baker estimated that Francisco came in 10-12 pounds overweight. He injured the right calf during winter ball but did not immediately seek treatment from the club for it. Someone pointed out that weight was put on because Francisco probably couldn’t run much after the injury.

“Then he’s got to stop eating,” Baker replied.

Francisco is out of options, so the chances are still pretty good that he can still make the 25-man roster. But maybe he’s not the lock he once seemed to be.

*As mentioned yesterday, Drew Stubbs got a bunt hit on Monday. Much has been made about Stubb’s bunting, or the lack thereof. But he was 4-for-6 (.667) for bunt hits last season and is a .450 career hitter when he bunts.

“He’s been working on it ever since he got here,” Baker said. “It just takes a couple of hits to get the confidence in it. Most guys that bunt can bunt .400-.500 batting average…It keeps you out of slumps. Like yesterday, [Kris] Negron faked a bunt. Now that third baseman has to come in and he bounced a ball over his head.”

*Baker was still excited today about some of the defense that was played on Monday. In one inning, Didi Gregorious, Willie Harris and Chris Heisey all made dazzling plays.

“That’s usually the last thing that comes around,” Baker said of defense. “I am sure we’ll have a few games where we kick it around or throw it around.”

*Gregorious, Henry Rodriguez and Neftali Soto are among the young guys that have played well in the early going.

“I love to see whoever I call over here play. That’s how you find out,” Baker said. “You can see the minor league kids peeking through the fences at their buddies. Some of them will be back over there with them. It gives some of them a lot of hope. You see the same guys peeking through the fence, Billy Hamilton is champing at the bit to get on the other side of that fence. When they come over here, they play. Everybody plays.”

*Today, many young guys are in the lineup vs. Mariners ace “King” Felix Hernandez.

“You say you wanted to play,” Baker joked. “You can’t pick who you play against. That’s huge as a young player when you get up to him like this. I remember as a young player hitting against Nolan Ryan.  Nobody wanted to hit. The manager looked down and everybody was drinking water and looking down. I was 19 years old  and said ‘I’ll hit!’” Go ahead, kid. Then, he was wild. And it was at night and he was throwing hard. I wasn’t afraid. ‘Go ahead little fool.’ I got a hit. I called my Dad from a payphone in the clubhouse.”

Reds lineup vs. Mariners

Negron 4

Harris 7

Jones 8

Ludwick DH

Heisey 9

Cairo 3

Hanigan 2

Valdez 5

Janish 6

Latos 1

INF Chris Valaika, who is coming off September surgery to repair a torn ACL in his right knee, is due to make his first appearance in a game today and will play 3B at some point. Valaika, who was just cleared to get into games, played 2B in Monday’s ‘B’ game vs. Seattle.

“I was 0-for-3 but the knee felt good,” Valaika said. “I was more happy to be out there again to get the reps. I was little behind a little bit. It’s getting back into the groove of things.”

*I will have more later today from Peoria…