Reds prospect RHP Robert Stephenson allowed two earned runs on four hits and seven walks in 6 1/3 innings on Wednesday for Double-A Pensacola.
He struck out four batters in the outing, throwing 58 of his season-high 105 pitches for strikes. The seven walks were ugly, but Stephenson, who didn’t even make it out of the first inning in his previous start, was able to escape trouble throughout the game and pitched into the seventh inning. The 22-year-old flamethrower has struggled through five starts in his return to the Southern League, posting an 0-4 record, 6.85 ERA, 1.