LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Braves left-hander Ian Krol gave up a tying three-run homer in the ninth inning Friday to a Marlins outfielder named Isaac Galloway, and even if it’s only spring training there is concern among many, if not the manager.
Concern with Krol’s .333 opponents’ average and 13.50 ERA in six relief appearances. This is the experienced reliever the Braves got from Detroit in the offseason trade for Cameron Maybin.
They hoped Krol would go a long way to filling the void they had at the situational lefty slot. They still hope that. They’d prefer not go into the season with Alex Torres as their only experienced lefty, even if Torres has been quite impressive and taken charge of that competition.
“I’m not there yet with the results. I’m not where I’m judging results and that kind of stuff,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said, when asked about Krol’s statistics. “But I think pretty soon (he’s) going to have to start getting some people out.
“But I think right now he’s just getting his work.”
After spitting up a three-run lead in the ninth, the Braves won in the bottom of the inning when Nate Freiman was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
Krol has allowed nine hits, nine runs (eight earned runs), four walks and one hit batter in 5 1/3 innings of work. He’s given up three runs three times in six games, including three earned twice. The homer by the right-handed Galloway — he’s 26 and has hit more than seven homers once in eight minor league seasons — was the first Krol allowed this spring.
“You know, maybe during the course of the year he doesn’t face five or six right-handers,” Gonzalez said, noting that Krol would be a situational lefty in the regular season. “We get to pick and choose left-handers he can face (during the season). Unfortunately a lineup turns over in spring training and you’re the last guy, you need to get some work and you face some people that you shouldn’t face.
“But I’m not there yet. I see the velocity coming on, he threw the ball over the plate. So, that’s what I’m looking at right now.”
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