Short starts, taxed bullpen hampering Reds

Alfredo Simon strikes out Mike Napoli swinging to end the bottom of the 1st inningCLEVELAND -- After getting roughed up in back-to-back innings by the Indians on Tuesday, Reds pitcher Alfredo Simon made a slow walk to the dugout upon securing the third out in the third. Once inside, Simon slammed his glove on the bench and spilled a bucket of bubble gum.

The long, frustrating night wasn't quite over yet for Simon, who would work into the fifth inning. But the Reds' fate was certainly sealed at that point before a 13-1 loss to Cleveland.

"We're just in a bad cycle of short starts and an overtaxed bullpen," Reds manager Bryan Price said.

Simon was signed for $2 million on March 17, explicitly to…