The first day of Spring Training games delivered as much as the first Spring Training games can, with one game won in the bottom of the last inning, one decided in the 8th inning and one (of course it would be my Rangers) that ended in a tie. Yes, recapping Spring Training games is for baseball junkies, so if you aren't one, you can move along to another post.
Detroit 2, Atlanta 1
The Tigers held on in the ninth inning after scoring two runs in the eighth inning to break a seven inning scoreless tie. Jeff Kobernus tripled in the first run for Detroit then scored on a Hernan Perez sacrifice fly.
Joey Terdoslavich homered for Atlanta in the ninth to cut the deficit in half, but it wasn't enough for the Braves to get the win.
Star Player Performances:
Detroit
Miguel Cabrera (3B) - 0-3
Prince Fielder (1B) - 0-1, 2 BB
Victor Martinez (DH) - 0-2
Rick Porcello (SP) - 2 IP, 2 K, 0 H, 0 R
Atlanta
Justin Upton (LF) - 0-2
B.J. Upton (CF) - 0-2, 1 K
Jason Heyward (RF) - 0-2, 1 K
Dan Uggla (2B) - 1-2, 1 K
Tim Hudson (SP) - 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R
Craig Kimbrel (RP) - IP, 2 BB, 1 K, 0 H, 0 R
Cleveland 11, Cincinnati 10
Cleveland scored three runs in the bottom of the 9th inning to score a walk-off win over their in-state rivals, the Reds. The game started off with offensive fireworks as Cincinnati scored 5 runs in the first, while Cleveland scored 7 runs in the first three innings.
Mike McDade hit a three-run double to end the game for Cleveland capping off a 14 hit performance for the Indians.
Star Player Performances:
Cincinnati
Shin-Soo Choo (CF) - 0-2, BB
Brandon Phillips (2B) - 1-3, K
Joey Votto (1B) - 2-3, RBI
Cleveland
Michael Bourn (CF) - 0-1, BB
Asdrubal Cabrera (SS) - 0-1, BB, RBI
Jason Kipnis (2B) - 0-2, 2 K
Nick Swisher (1B) - 1-2, RBI
Carlos Santana (C) - 2-2, 2 RBI
San Diego 9, Seattle 3
The Padres used a six run 1st inning to beat the Mariners, 9-3. The highlight of that first inning was a grand slam by Jedd Gyorko. Seattle scored one in the bottom of the 6th inning before San Diego added three more in the top of the 9th inning.
Casper Wells hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the 9th for Seattle to add to the Mariners total.
Star Player Performances:
San Diego
Yonder Alonso (1B) - 0-3
Seattle
Kendry Morales (DH) - 0-2
Michael Morse (RF) - 1-3, K
Raul Ibanez (LF) - 0-2
Jesus Montero (C) - 1-1
Kansas City 5, Texas 5
The Royals and Rangers played to a 5-5 tie in their first exhibition game on Friday as the two teams decided not to play extra innings early in Spring Training. Kansas City started the scoring in the top of the 1st inning when Eric Hosmer grounded out to Ian Kinsler, allowing Alex Gordon to score.
Kansas City added two more runs to their lead in the top of the 4th, as Xavier Nady drew a bases loaded walk from Texas' Alexi Ogando to make it 2-0. Elliot Johnson added a sacrifice fly later in the inning to score Johnny Giavotella and make it a 3-0 Kansas City lead.
The Rangers got their offense going in the bottom of the 4th inning, as Nelson Cruz launched a bomb to center field with David Murphy on base to draw the Rangers within a run at 3-2.
Adam Moore answered back for Kansas City in the top of the 5th inning with a solo shot off of Alexi Ogando to extend the Royals lead to 4-2 in the top of the 5th inning.
In the bottom of the 7th the Rangers drew within a run again at 4-3, as Craig Gentry singled to score James Adduci.
Kansas City added a run in the top of the 9th to extend their lead once again to 5-3 when David Lough lined a single to left field to score Brett Hayes.
Texas was down to their final out after James Adduci hit into a double play following a Joey Butler walk. Brandon Allen gave the Rangers a two-out triple before Yangervis Solarte launched a homer for Texas to even the score at 5-5. Craig Gentry drew a two out walk to put the winning run on base, but Leury Garcia grounded out to end the game and leave the Rangers and Royals knotted up at 5-5.
Kansas City Star Player Performances:
Alex Gordon (LF) - 1-2, K
Eric Hosmer (1B) - 0-2, RBI
Billy Butler (DH) - 0-2
Mike Moustakas (3B) - 1-2
Texas Box Score:
Ian Kinsler (2B) - 0-2
Leury Garcia (2B) - 0-3, K
Elvis Andrus (SS) - 0-2
Jurickson Profar (SS) - 0-2, K, E
David Murphy (LF) - 1-2, K
Julio Borbon (LF) - 0-1, BB, K
Nelson Cruz (RF) - 1-2, HR, 2 RBI
Engel Beltre (RF) - 0-2
A.J. Pierzynski (C) - 0-1
Eli Whiteside (C) - 0-1
Konrad Schmidt (C) - 0-1
Joey Butler (PH) - 0-0, BB
Jeff Baker (DH) - 0-2
James Adduci (DH) - 1-2, 2B
Mitch Moreland (1B) - 0-1, BB
Brandon Allen (1B) - 1-2, 3B
Mike Olt (3B) - 0-2, 2 K
Yangervis Solarte (3B) - 1-1, HR, 2 RBI, BB
Leonys Martin (CF) - 1-2, CS
Craig Gentry (CF) - 1-1, RBI, BB, SB
Derek Holland (SP) - 3.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 3.00 ERA
Alexi Ogando - 1.1 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, 1 HR, 1 HBP, 20.25 ERA
Coty Woods - 0.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 0.00 ERA
Robbie Ross - 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 0.00 ERA
Cory Burns - 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 0.00 ERA
Tanner Scheppers - 1.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 9.00 ERA
Boy, looking at the Rangers box score, one could do quite a bit of over-reacting. Alexi Ogando did not have his best stuff, and quite honestly, the Rangers need him to get it together considering he is projected to be a big part of the rotation in 2013. Derek Holland did not look terrible, but giving up six hits in just three innings is a little too high for my liking. Robbie Ross did however impress, and it appears the Rangers will in fact give him an opportunity to stretch himself out and earn a spot in the rotation.
Offensively, the Rangers were only able to put seven hits on the board, but when you get a pair of two run homers, you don't have to do a lot more than that. Nelson Cruz started off the spring the right way while the only other Texas regulars to put a hit on the board were David Murphy and Leonys Martin who is competing with Craig Gentry for the starting center field job.
The offense will get started, but no rush, they have plenty of time before that March 31 opener in Houston.
What I found most interesting about the Texas game today was the lineup that Washington put out there. Yes, it is only the first game of the spring, but I think we got a good idea today of what the plans are for 2013. With Beltre not in the lineup we didn't get the full picture, but I think you would have seen Beltre in the third spot while Murphy would have slid down to the sixth spot, with Moreland, Olt and Martin or Gentry finishing out the lineup.
Of course the biggest battle between position players this spring is between Leonys Martin and Craig Gentry. Personally, I hope Gentry takes the job, making me somewhat biased. Gentry had the better day today overall, stealing a base and drawing a big two out walk in the ninth inning.
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