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Aumont has one more chance to catch on with Phillies

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Phillies catcher John Hester ambled to the mound Sunday, hoping to give reliever Phillippe Aumont a bit of relief in the sixth inning of a 6-2 loss to the University of Tampa. Runners stood on first and second with two outs. The righthanded Aumont had already yielded a run. More damage appeared imminent.

Phillippe Aumont. (David Swanson/Staff Photographer)
Phillippe Aumont. (David Swanson/Staff Photographer)Read more

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Phillies catcher John Hester ambled to the mound Sunday, hoping to give reliever Phillippe Aumont a bit of relief in the sixth inning of a 6-2 loss to the University of Tampa. Runners stood on first and second with two outs. The righthanded Aumont had already yielded a run. More damage appeared imminent.

"Let's get this next batter out," Hester told him. Aumont did just that, forcing a fly ball to escape the inning. Aumont's first appearance of spring training - the most vital camp of his career - was complete.

Aumont spent most of last season in triple A and entered spring training without any remaining minor-league options. If the Phillies choose to demote Aumont, he must pass through waivers before playing in the minors. It is unlikely he will clear waivers, therefore Aumont either makes the opening-day roster with the Phillies or probably will spend the season with another club.

"It's not more important than the other springs to me, it's the same," Aumont said. "I'm competing for a spot. They're giving me that opportunity, I'm going to take it. I'm going to battle for it. If it happens, it happens. If it doesn't, it doesn't."

Aumont thought he would be more nervous in his first outing of the spring. Instead, he said he was relaxed and intense. Aumont faced five batters in his one inning of work. Manager Ryne Sandberg said Aumont was slow to the plate, which allowed for a stolen base. The runner who stole second later scored on a single.

"It came back to haunt him," Sandberg said. "He had a hard time with strike one and really getting ahead of the hitters."

Two of the hits he allowed were ground balls. One hard-hit ball bounced off the glove of shortstop Chase d'Arnaud, who attempted a diving stop.

"That's just what it is. That's the game," Aumont said. "If they find a hole, they find a hole."

This is Aumont's fourth spring with the Phillies. He is the lone player remaining from the December 2009 trade that sent Cliff Lee to Seattle. The Phillies released outfielder Tyson Gillies last June. Reliever J.C. Ramirez was outrighted after the 2013 season.

The 6-foot-7 Aumont is an imposing figure with a 94-m.p.h. fastball. But he has struggled with command. Aumont walked 39 batters in 55 innings last season at triple-A Lehigh Valley. He pitched in just five games last season for the Phillies.

"I used to put a little pressure on myself, kind of wanted to make it happen more than anything else," Aumont said. "I have to get away from that thought process and just go out there one outing at a time, one hitter at a time and go right at them."

@matt_breen