Chicago Cubs 2 Cincinnati Reds 5

Mandatory Credit: Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports

The Cincinnati Reds got their first look at Jon Lester and the new and improved Chicago Cubs on Friday afternoon in front of 15,331 in Mesa, Arizona. It was the largest crowd ever for a Spring Training game in either the Cactus League or Grapefruit League. Lester was sharp (1 H, 3 K, 2 IP), but it was Tony Cingrani who may have made the biggest statement in a 5-2 Reds win.

Cingrani (shoulder) returned to the mound for the first time since June 19th of last season. Hoping to earn a spot in the Reds’ rotation, the left-hander passed his first test of the spring with two scoreless innings. In each inning, Cingrani gave up a leadoff hit and stranded two runners, but struck out two and reached 94 MPH on the radar gun.

Paul Maholm threw a scoreless third and fourth for the Reds, giving up just one hit. In the top of the fourth, Jay Bruce doubled for the second time in four at-bats this spring, but he was stranded at second base after Chris Dominguez struck out swinging.

In the fifth, Chicago’s Matt Szczur led off with a triple and scored on Jonathan Herrera‘s bunt single to give the Cubs a 1-0 lead. The Reds’ bats finally came alive in the seventh. Brennan Boesch‘s three-run homer highlighted a five-run inning to put the Reds up for good.

Votto expected to return Saturday

The wait is (likely) over. Joey Votto is scheduled to make his spring debut on Saturday, when the Reds travel to play the defending American League champion Royals at 3:05 p.m. ET. It will be Votto’s first appearance in a game since July 5th. He missed the final three months of last season — 100 games total — with a distal strain of his left quadriceps.