LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Mauricio Cabrera lit up the radar gun to triple digits, third-base prospect Rio Ruiz had a couple of hits, Hector Olivera stayed busy at his new left-field position, and eight of 10 Braves pitchers got good results in the Grapefruit League opener.
Yes, 10 pitchers. It took that many for the Braves to get through a 10-inning, 4-all tie with the Orioles on Tuesday afternoon at Champion Stadium.
After 21-year-old Rio Ruiz had a ground-rule double over the left-field fence to start a two-run Braves rally in eighth that tied the score, 22-year-old Cabrera touched 100 mph with his fastball and struck out two in a perfect ninth inning.
Neither will make the Braves’ team out of spring training, but Ruiz and Cabrera each showed why he could be part of the team’s future.
Braves starter Williams Perez gave up two hits and a run in the first inning and reliever Danny Burawa allowed three runs and two homers in the third as the Braves fell behind 4-0 early against an Orioles travel roster that featured only one or two projected lineup regulars.
But eight other Braves relievers limited the O’s to a combined two hits with seven strikeouts in eight scoreless innings, including no hits over the last six innings. Braves pitchers finished with eight strikeouts and no walks in 10 innings.
“Rio had some good at-bats,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “I’m pleased with everything, really. Offensively and even pitching. I’m even pleased with Olivera in left field – why not get him some reps right from the get-go. We talked about how well he’s doing and I think he got five balls hit to him in the first seven hitters. The more we see him out there the more comfortable he’ll get.”
Olivera is making the transition to left field after playing third base in his first stint in the majors late in 2016, when he was a 30-year-old rookie. The Cuban played left field during winter ball in Puerto Rico and the Braves like what they’ve seen from him at the position.
He had a ball sail over him for a first-inning double by Jimmy Paredes, but Gonzalez said Olivera had been told to move up about 10 feet just before that ball was hit, and that it was hit sharply.
Perez only pitched one inning because he had thrown a long bullpen side session over the weekend. His next appearance will be in relief, probably in a few days.
Gonzalez was particularly impressed by Cabrera, who still needs to sharpen his command, but shows obvious potential with stuff that is deserving of the often-overused adjective “electric.” Cabrera topped out at 103 mph during the Arizona Fall League, where he threw more 100-mph pitches than all others combined.
“I mean, that’s a free-and-easy 100 (mph),” Gonzalez said, referring to Cabrera’s controlled delivery. “Free-and-easy arm, and he threw some breaking balls for strikes. That’s exciting.”
