LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Manager Fredi Gonzalez liked the 14 hits, eight runs and only four strikeouts produced by Braves hitters Friday against Washington, but he cringed a bit watching a walk-a-thon by a couple of rookie relievers.
Juan Jaime recorded two outs and was charged with three hits, four runs and three walks in the fifth inning, and Arodys Vizcaino let gave up a hit, two decisive runs and two walks in the seventh inning of a 9-8 loss to the Nationals.
Freddie Freeman drove in three runs with a double and a two-run homer for the Braves, who also got two hits from rookie second-base candidate Jace Peterson and three hits including a homer from non-roster outfielder Pedro Ciriaco.
“Offensively we did a nice job,” Gonzalez said. “I know it’s the first time out for some of these younger guys, but we can’t walk people. Throw the ball over the plate. I know it’s the first time out; chalk it up for that. But as the spring continues you want to start seeing the ball get thrown over the plate.”
Jaime is out of minor-league options, but if he has many more outings like Friday’s it won’t matter: The Braves won’t keep him on the roster just because he has an upper-90s fastball and might be claimed on waivers if they try to send him to the minors.
Braves starter Alex Wood allowed two hits and two runs with one strikeout in two innings, the runs coming on Tyler Moore’s homer following Ian Stewart’s one-out single in the second inning.
“There’s always a little nerves the first time, you want to make sure you’ve still got what it takes,” Wood said of his spring debut. “But it was fun to get out there. My body feels good, that was the most exciting part about it. Nice little welcome back, the little two-run homer there in the second. But it was a good day. I felt really good. I’m excited to kind of move forward from here.”
Of the home-run pitch to Moore, Wood said, “I was kind of surprised actually, it was a slide-step sinker away and I hadn’t slide-stepped the entire game, so I was pretty impressed that he stayed on it like he did. But it’s early. Just trying to be as competitive as possible and throw as many strikes and work on my fastball command.”
Gonzalez like that Wood threw 17 strikes in 24 pitches, and the manager also praised prospect Tyrell Jenkins after he pitched the scoreless ball in the eighth and ninth innings and allowed two hits and no walks with one strikeout.
