DUNEDIN, Fla. – Five days after getting knocked around in the second inning of his Braves debut, Aaron Blair reminded everyone why he’s considered more major-league ready than Atlanta’s other starting-pitcher prospects.
Blair pitched two scoreless innings in a 3-1 Grapefruit League loss against the Blue Jays, striking out three and allowing one hit and one hit batter. The leadoff man reached base in both innings and Blair retired the next three each time.
In his debut Wednesday against the Orioles, Blair pitched a perfect first inning before giving up five runs, four hits and two home runs in the second inning.
“Obviously it was a lot better than the first outing,” Blair, 23, said Monday. “I had a feel for all three of my pitches. Last outing I was up in the zone. Today I was still up on a couple of pitches, the double to right field. Something I’ve got to work on. But for the most part I was down, throwing strikes, going right after hitters.”
Kevin Pillar led off the first inning with a long at-bat capped by a double high off the right-field wall. Blair then struck out Michael Saunders, got Troy Tulowitzki on a groundout to second base, and struck out Chris Colabello with a runner at third to end the inning.
He hit Junior Lake with a pitch to start the second inning, then struck out Ryan Goins and got Josh Thole and Darwin Barney on flyouts.
“The first inning it was a long at-bat to lead off the game,” Blair said. “He saw my whole arsenal, so he got a fastball up in the zone. But I was able to work out of it with a couple of fastballs and a groundout. Part of pitching is pitching out of jams.”
Three Braves relievers – Alex Ogando, John Gant, Danny Burawa – gave up one run apiece in one inning, while left-hander Hunter Cervenka pitched a perfect inning and Carlos Torres and right-hander Chris Ellis each allowed one hit in one inning.
“All these guys really pitched well, I thought,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “Ellis, Burawa, Cervenka came in and got two left-handers out, Gant. I’m really pleased.”
Of Blair’s second outing, Gonzalez said, “His sinkerball was working, his secondary pitches were working also. The more you run him out there, the more you’re going to see him feel comfortable getting in some kind of groove. Any of these guys haven’t faced hitter in five, six months, so you’ve got to give them a chance to get out there and get their feet wet.”
Besides throwing his secondary pitches for strikes to set up his fastball, Blair said the comfort of his second start was also a big factor in his improved performance.
“First time with a new team you’re always a little amped up, anxious,” he said. “But today was a lot better and I had a lot better feel. Good week of work, and I’m looking forward to getting back out there.”
