C. Trent Rosecrans

crosecrans@enquirer.com

ST. LOUIS – Zack Cozart swung and missed for the first time this season in the eighth inning in an at-bat against Cardinals reliever Seung Hwan Oh. Cozart had made contact the first 44 times this season he’d swung, before missing on the 45th swing of 2016. The 46th swing of the season resulted in a double.



After Sunday’s victory over the Cardinals, Cozart said he didn’t know about the streak until after the game when Jay Bruce said something to him about it and then when Reds media relations director Rob Butcher sent him a text about it.



“I said I guess that’s a good thing, I don’t know. Sometimes you swing and dribble it in play and maybe want to miss it or something,” Cozart said. “I’m usually a pretty good contact hitter in general anyway. I think that’s why I’m more pleased about my hitting right now. I’m not swinging at bad pitches. That’s the key. If you can bring them up over the plate, you’ve got a chance. That’s what I’m trying to do.”

Cozart has more of a chance this season. He’s gotten a hit in all seven games he’s played and is hitting .480 to start the season (12-for-25) and has four doubles (including two Saturday) to boot.



While he said he isn’t sure if the not swinging and missing really means anything, it is a result of better pitch recognition. Most of the time when a players swings and misses, it’s because he was fooled on a pitch or swings at something outside of the strike zone. That’s not happening much for Cozart.



“A slider low in the dirt or whatever, (Adam) Wainwright’s curve in the dirt, those are the ones you don’t want to swing at,” Cozart said. “There’s a good chance you swing and miss. (Francisco) Liriano's slider, stuff like that. I know as a hitter if I lay off that stuff and get into good counts, I’m going to be way more successful. That’s what I’m focusing on now.”



BAILEY PITCHES: Homer Bailey’s stay in Arizona is about to end, as the right-hander made his final extended spring training start on Saturday and is expected to return to Cincinnati in time to be with the team on Monday.

Bailey is still scheduled to make at least four rehab appearances in the minors before returning to the Reds’ rotation. Bailey had Tommy John surgery last May.



In Arizona, Bailey threw more than 50 pitches in 2 2/3 innings and threw as hard as 96 mph, while pitching in the 91-94 mph range, general manager Dick Williams said on Saturday.

Reds beat Cardinals, snap losing streak