Foltynewicz solid in second spring start

Mike Foltynewicz got the start Sunday against the Red Sox.

Mike Foltynewicz got the start Sunday against the Red Sox.

Righthander Mike Foltynewicz, in competition for the fifth starter spot, went three innings, giving up one run on two hits and a walk with one strikeout against the Red Sox on Sunday afternoon in the Braves’ 11-1 loss. Foltynewicz threw 50 pitches, 33 for strikes.

The lone run he allowed came in the first inning. Dustin Pedroia led off with a single to right, followed by double from Andrew Benintendi. Pedroia scored on Mookie Betts’s sacrifice fly. After Hanley Ramirez reached on an error by shortstop Johan Camargo, Foltynewicz got Mitch Moreland to ground into a double play, limiting the damage.

Leading off the second Jackie Bradley reached base on first baseman Christian Walker’s error followed by a walk to Josh Rutledge. But Foltynewicz got Christian Vazquez to ground out before Deven Marrero struck out swinging and Pedroia grounded out to end the inning.

Foltynewicz retired the side in order in the third.

“The first two innings, they were kind of a big blur. A lot of things happened real fast,” Foltynewicz said. “But I got the chance to work out of some jams there and work around some errors, which you might need to do during the season. But I think I did a pretty good job of that.”

Foltynewicz faced a very representative Red Sox lineup, a good test early in spring.

“Yeah, there were a couple of guys sitting out there, but they got a great team out there that they threw at me today,” he said. “And their guys on the bench are great, too. So I know they’re going to be making some noise out there in the (American League) East. But, yeah, a good lineup today, and solid hitters top to bottom. So happy I scooted out of there with one run.”

Manager Brian Snitker was pleased as well.

“It was just good to see how he limited some damage,” Snitker said. “Went to his secondary stuff well, I thought. It was good. That’s really good to see with him, how he doesn’t go harder, harder. He kept pitching and he pitched his way through that.”