Moyer allows 5 runs in B game
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Moyer allows 5 runs in B game
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
This comes from esteemed Inquirer baseball writer Bob Brookover, who spent the morning at the Phillies' B game against Toronto.
DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Jamie Moyer started the ‘B’ game this morning at Dunedin Stadium, but got a heavy dose of the Toronto Blue Jays’ ‘A’ lineup.
The result was a D at best for the Phillies’ veteran lefthander.
“I didn’t think I threw very well,” Moyer said after allowing five earned runs, eight hits and a walk during the Phillies’ morning exhibition against a Toronto lineup that included seven big-league regulars. “I elevated a few too many pitches. I threw a lot of poor pitches and I threw a lot of good pitches.”
Moyer, in two previous ‘B’ games against a lot of Toronto hitters that won’t make the big-league club, had thrown three scoreless each time. He needed just 31 pitches to get through his previous outing, but this morning he needed that many to get through the first inning.
Jose Bautista singled, Aaron Hill doubled, Adam Lind singled and Vernon Wells doubled to start the bottom of the first. After registering consecutive strikeouts with sharp changeups, Moyer couldn’t tried to get a 1-2 changeup past Chris Lubanski, but the Blue Jays’ outfielder slammed the pitch off the right-field wall for a two-run double.
Moyer pitched a scoreless second, then surrendered another run in the third on an RBI double by catcher John Buck.
After throwing 63 pitches – 41 for strikes – in his three innings, Moyer said he struggled “getting the ball in front of me and throwing on a downward plane.”
“I’ll never be a guy that will throw an excuse out there,” Moyer said. “I had the ball and I threw the pitches, so it’s my responsibility to throw well. I do know it’s not going to be well every time, but I know it’s not going to be poor every time. This part of the year is all about getting your feet underneath you and I feel like I can take as much from this game as I can the previous two games.”
Pitching coach Rich Dubee indicated earlier in spring training that Moyer, based on his experience and long track record of success, had an edge over righthander Kyle Kendrick in the fight for the fifth spot in the starting rotation. Kendrick, however, has thrown exceptionally well so far this spring.
“That’s their choice,” Moyer said. “It’s all about contributing.”
Zagurski has scoreless outing
Lefthander Mike Zagurski said he threw two scoreless innings in his ‘B’ game outing against the Blue Jays. He said he allowed one hit and a walk.
“The first inning went well,” Zagurski, who has a chance to earn a bullpen spot if neither Brad Lidge nor J.C. Romero are able to start the season. “The second one I gave up a single and I had a bad walk. It was a sloppy walk.”
"Said" means our intrepid reporter wasn't there. You know, it's warming up in Florida, happy hour at Hooters and all. So, eventually he got some quotes, from Moyer or (more likely) from the Phillies' press sheets. Andy had other priorities. Not to worry. Come April, our Man Martino will go back to his hard-earned VIP parking spots at Citizens Bank Park, private elevators, free food and -- more Phillies press sheets. Hey, at least he has his Texas Instruments calculator from middle school. He uses that to numb us into oblivion over why (whatever) should be (whatever) in his blogs. It's a grueling pace, between handouts. And, when the Inqy and DN have circulation numberss in the minus numbers, he'll be blogging from his parents' basement.— eman- Jamie can't be the 5th pitcher there are too many teams he just CAN'T pitch against. His best hope this year is to just be the post rain delay guy. He can probably vulture 5 or 6 more wins that way.— phasor
- The "B" game was in Dunedin at 10:00 AM. The "regular" spring training game was 60 miles away in Bradenton at 1:00. The reporter couldn't see Zugurski pitch the last two innings of the B game AND cover the regular game........the cranky folks on this site need to relax....— willll
