The Sox finally
won their first spring training game today, although they needed
Cole Armstrong to hang on after a collision at home plate to both prevent the tying run from scoring and record the final out. Here's what I was able to pick out from the Diamondbacks' broadcast:
PITCHERS
Gavin Floyd focused on busting hitters inside with his fastball. His curve wasn't doing much, and he didn't throw many changeups, so it was mainly a fastball day. Outside of the hit batter, it sounded like he was largely successful, getting a few jam shots. We're still waiting for the first strikeout from a Sox starter, however.
Matt Thornton brought his A-game,
Boone Logan missed some spots but got out of his inning unscathed.
Ryan Bukvich nearly blew the game, but
Carlos Vazquez was the biggest disappointment -- not only did he not throw well, but he was late covering first twice, though the ump bailed him out once with a bad call. It's Spring Training for the guys in blue, too.
Jeff Bajenaru looked just like Jeff Bajenaru (imagine that). He worked a full inning, but only recorded one out on his own. Andy Gonzalez laid down a sacrifice bunt for one of them, and Casey Rogowski was thrown out rounding second a little too widely on a single, and didn't make it back to the bag before Carlos Gonzalez's smart throw.
OUTFIELDER DERBY
Is it too late to get Josh Fields back into the picture?
Ryan Sweeney had the best day of anybody, going 1-for-2 and starting the game-ending relay leading to the play at the plate, but he's still the longshot since he needs his at-bats.
Otherwise,
Darin Erstad and
Luis Terrero each had fairly lousy days, though Erstad was the slight victor:
- Erstad: 1-for-3 with an RBI groundout to first base that probably wouldn't have scored anybody but Pablo Ozuna. He let a ball get over his head in center for a double, which would later score.
- Terrero: Made a nice leaping catch at the wall, but negated it with a drop later in the game (no error was charged because he got an out at second, and the runner would've scored on a sac fly had he caught it). He popped up a suicide squeeze attempt into a double play in his only at-bat.
IN THE FIELDJoe Crede was charged with an error when a ball hopped up and got stuck in his shirt near his belt buckle, but he made a nice play charging a bunt later.
Juan Uribe looked good with the glove, making a nice ranging play and starting a double play.
Tadahito Iguchi turned two double plays with no problem.
Pedro Lopez made the relay throw to Armstrong.
AT THE PLATEJermaine Dye launched a no-doubter homer when D.J. Carrasco got cute and dropped down.
Jim Thome chopped out in his first two at-bats, swinging unusually early in the count.
Pablo Ozuna hit a hustling leadoff triple and scored the Sox's first run (which is why I'm OK with him as leadoff against lefties, for now).
Eduardo Perez reached base twice, once on an error. His single went off a fielder's glove as well. He was replaced by Rogowski, who went 1-for-1 and is off to a nice start. He certainly isn't hurting Kenny Williams
in terms of trade value, if he's being shopped.
I cringed hearing
Chris Young come to the plate, but he wasn't a factor. He laid down a sac bunt, was jammed by Floyd and blown away by Thornton (I think) in his three plate appearances today.