Jake Odorizzi allowed four unearned runs in the first inning on Sunday afternoon, as the Minnesota Twins took the first game of the Knutson Classic from the Tampa Bay Rays, 5-4. It was the the first time this Spring a Rays starter allowed a run.
Odorizzi fanned first two batters (swinging) on seven pitches before walking the next two hitters. Tim Beckham followed with a fielding error on Eddie Rosario’s two-out grounder to short. That gaffe set the plate for Byung Ho Park, who hammered a grand slam to left-center field.
Odorizzi went on to post 1-1/3 innings, allowing just the one hit to go along with three walks and two strikeouts. Of his total 42 pitches, 24 went for strikes.
The righty felt a physical error led to the walks:
Hickey thought my head position was off for a couple of hitters in the first inning… Hick doesn’t miss too much. It’s an easy fix. I’d rather it happen now.
Dana Eveland, Ryan Webb ― who allowed an unearned run ― and the tandem of Brad Boxberger and Danny Farquhar followed Odorizzi with 4-2/3 sharp frames. Manager Kevin Cash indicated in his post game presser that he was pleased with Boxberger’s performance, noting that he will be limited to seven or eight outings this Spring due to the heavy workload he’s expected to carry early in the regular season.
Blake Snell posted two strong scoreless innings where he allowed just an infield hit and a walk on 39 pitches (25 for strikes). Snell’s fastball averaged 95 mph for most of his appearance, although he impressively touched 97 mph on the in-park radar more than a few times. Pretty impressive for someone who’s not yet completely stretched.
One thing I observed about Snell, his pitching motion slowed down significantly when he threw his off-speed stuff. It wasn’t enough to tip off the Twins’ hitters, however, I can see how something like that could give opposing batters an advantage when facing the southpaw. I can’t help but wonder if his mechanics are still a work in progress?
Right handed knuckleballer Eddie Gamboa followed with a scoreless ninth.
All of the Twins runs were the result of Rays errors. Tampa Bay has now committed a total of 12 errors and 13 unearned runs in the first five Grapefruit League contests.
Rays manager Kevin Cash spoke about those errors:
We’ve made a couple errors on balls I know we’re going to make those plays during the season. But it’s showed up and it’s kind of hurt us in some of these games. And that’s good for the guys to see, that’s good for all of us, that shows the importance of making that routine play.
Offensively speaking, the Rays collected seven hits and four runs. Evan Longoria looked good in the batters box, singling up the middle in the first inning and following with a double down the left-field line in his next at-bat. Desmond Jennings drove home the Rays first run with a sac-fly in the third.
Trailing 5-1 in the bottom of the ninth, Tampa Bay scored three times on a Daniel Robertson double, Juniel Querecuto single, and a Hank Conger groundout. However, they ultimate fell short by a run and dropped the first game of the Knutson Classic.
The New What Next
Tampa Bay is back in action in Fort Myers on Monday, when they will take on the Boston Red Sox. Matt Moore will toe the rubber in his first outing of the Spring, opposite of Henry Owens. Moore posted a 5.43 ERA in an injury-shortened 2015 season, but ended the season with a 2.84 ERA in his last five starts of the year.
Cash is encouraged by his strong Spring so far, saying,
I’ve talked extremely highly of Matt Moore and the way he has thrown the ball.
Steve Geltz and Taylor Guerrieri are among the scheduled relievers to pitch on Monday.
Rays 3/7/16 Starting Lineup
Guyer RF
Dickerson DH
Longoria 3B
Morrison 1B
Forsythe 2B
Pearce LF
Kiermaier CF
Miller SS
Casali C
Moore LHP
Noteworthiness
― Brandon Guyer is expected to play through Sunday, then take a few days off to be with his wife for the scheduled birth of their second child.
― Dave Haller noted the Rays early Spring Training returns:
- Tampa Bay’s offense leads Major League Baseball with 21 doubles.
- Tampa Bay’s pitchers lead the Grapefruit League with a 2.86 ERA.
- However, the team has collected a Major League most 12 errors.
- The team has also given up a Major League most 13 unearned runs.
The lesson to be learned here, you take the good with the bad.
― Incidentally, here are a few pictures from section 204 of the Charlotte Sports Park:
