Jackson not fooling anyone

From where I sit in the Al Lang press box I can hear the visiting radio crew, and I have to say, Marty Brennaman, the longtime Reds announcer, is in midseason form.

“You can’t say anything to get me mad today,” he told his listeners on the Reds radio network.

Why? North Carolina beat Duke on Saturday night. Brennaman is a UNC grad.

Here’s another reason why Brennaman is happy: The Reds scored six times off Jackson in the second inning.

Jackson allowed six hits, including a pair of RBI doubles. The Rays did make two errors behind Jackson, but, as Brennaman told his listeners, Jackson wasn’t fooling anyone.

At least Jackson didn’t walk any batters. In fact, Jackson has yet to walk a batter this spring.

The same can’t be said for Matt Belisle, who pitched out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the first inning. He started the second by walking Willy Aybar and Dioner Navarro. That prompted a meeting from Reds manager Dusty Baker, which is never good. Usually the pitching coach goes to the mound to talk about mechanics. The manager goes out for a little kick in the butt.

Belisle responded, getting Justin Ruggiano to bounce to shortstop, but the ball kicks off the glove of Jeff Keppinger for an error and a run.

But that’s all for the Rays.

Reds 6, Rays 1.