VIERA, Fla. – Gerald Laird had to do more standing and watching balls sail out of the park than he and the Braves would've preferred, but Wednesday's game against Washington otherwise encouraging for the veteran catcher.
Laird hit a home run and threw out one of two base-stealers in 5-1/2 innings of work in the 11-2 loss, and had no problems with the previously strained left calf that kept him out of more than half of the Grapefruit League games.
“Feeling really good,” said Laird, who flied out twice to center before homering in the sixth inning, his first homer in 25 at-bats this spring. “I barreled some balls today. Starting to feel good at the right time.”
It was only the 12th game of the spring for Laird, and marked the first time he played consecutive games since March 12-13. The Braves were particularly cautious in bringing him back from the calf injury, because with Brian McCann starting the season on the disabled list he’ll be their only experienced major league catcher.
“I’m going to catch again tomorrow so I can go three in a row,” said Laird, who threw out Jayson Werth attempting to steal second base for the third out in the first inning. “It felt good to get back out there, get your timing going. I was glad a couple of guys ran; I was able to get someone and do some things out there. So it was an all-around good day.”
Manager Fredi Gonzalez said he might play Laird in Thursday’s Grapefruit League finale against Houston, but would first consult with head trainer Jeff Porter.
Catcher Evan Gattis, who found out Wednesday that he made the opening-day roster, moved from left field to catch the last three innings against the Nationals. Gattis hit his sixth homer of the spring to lead off the sixth inning against left-hander Ross Detwiler, and Laird followed by taking Detwiler deep to give the catchers back-to-back homers.
Laird, 33, has 10 years of major league experience and said he looks forward to working with Gattis, who hasn’t played above the Double-A level.
“I’m happy for him,” said Laird, who was in the clubhouse Wednesday morning when Gattis was summoned to the manager’s office and told he made the club. “It was a good moment for him. He’s worked his tail off. He’s come a long way. The kid’s been great since the day I met him. Real upbeat. He’s gotten to where he wanted to be.
“It’s just a fun time for some older guys to see what it means for a guy to be able to step in and make the ballclub.
He’s earned everything he’s gotten. He’s had a great spring. I’ll work with him and help him out along the way, try to help make him a better player.”
Rough day for Rodriguez: Triple-A left-hander Daniel Rodriguez pitched two-plus innings for the Braves and allowed eight runs, five walks and four home runs, including two homers by Wilson Ramos in the third and fourth innings.
Rodriguez faced seven batters in the fifth inning and failed to retire any of them, giving up a three homers, three walks and a double in the inning before lefty Luis Avilan came in and ended the carnage by inducing a double-play grounder and a flyball from the next two batters.
The Braves had planned to start Rodriguez and have him pitch about four innings. They changed that plan because of concerns about potentially chilly, windy conditions similar to those they faced Tuesday in Lakeland.
They decided to have lefty Eric O’Flaherty pitch the first inning, rather than sit around for four or more innings. O’Flaherty’s had no problems with his back this spring and the Braves wanted to keep it that way, hence the move. (The weather turned out to be a lot warmer and less windy than anticipated.)
The Nationals torched Rodriguez. Besides Ramos, Tyler Moore also homered off him, and the first of three Ryan Zimmerman homers Wednesday was against Rodriguez (the others were off Cristhian Martinez and Dusty Hughes).
Etc. Braves infielder Ramon Pena went 3-for-3 with three singles to raise his spring average to .306. He's 6-for-10 with three walks and a home run in his past five games…. Paul Maholm will start against an Astros split-squad Thursday in the Braves' last game before they leave Florida. Gonzalez said lineup regulars will get two or three at-bats…. O'Flaherty allowed one hit and struck out Zimmerman in the first inning. After straining a groin and missing the first 2-1/2 weeks of games, the lefty has pitched five scoreless innings and allowed five hits and one walk with four strikeouts…. The Braves' retired numbers have been moved from the left-field upper-deck façade at Turner Field to the first- and third-base sides below club level.
