LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- If anybody took a step forward in the fifth starter's competition Friday, it was Brandon Beachy.
He struck out four in three scoreless innings against the Nationals and allowed only one hit to the second-to-last batter he faced in a split-squad game in Viera, Fla., where the Braves won 6-4. He threw 32 of his 51 pitches for strikes.
Meanwhile back at the Braves' complex, his primary competition Mike Minor struggled with command for much of his three innings.
Minor gave up five hits, issued two walks and threw a wild pitch to the 15 batters he faced, but gave up only a run in a 7-5 loss to the Blue Jays. Afterward manager Fredi Gonzalez, who stayed in Braves camp while sending bench coach Carlos Tosca to Viera, liked the damage control he saw.
“You don’t expect anybody to go out there and throw zeroes all day long,” Gonzalez said. “You like to see when he got himself in a little bit of trouble, he kept it there.”
Minor thought he had struck out Corey Patterson, but didn't get the call before giving up a run-scoring double on a 3-2 curve in the first inning. Minor walked two batters in the second, but avoided the big inning by getting former Brave Yunel Escobar to ground into a double play on a fastball away.
“I felt OK. I just couldn’t put it where I wanted to,” said Minor, who was sharper in two scoreless innings against the Mets his first time out.
Rodrigo Lopez, the third contender for the fifth spot, mostly as insurance, gave up two runs (one earned) on two walks and a hit in three innings after Minor pitched.
Health watch
Chipper Jones' surgically repaired left knee bounced back well from his first start at third base Thursday. It was the rest of him that needed a breather.
Jones was back at designated hitter Friday against the Blue Jays for the fourth time this spring. He went 1-for-3 with a line-drive single.
“I’m pretty sore, sore all over, [but] the knee’s not bad,” Jones said. “You can’t simulate everything you do in a game, whether it’s squatting to get ready at third, taking off, stopping, starting on the bases. You take it for granted until the next morning. [Thursday] was a good first step.”
Gonzalez said likely will play Jones at DH again Saturday and get him back in the field Sunday against the Nationals.
Eric Hinske was scratched from Friday's lineup with stiffness in his left calf, but said he would be fine to go Saturday.
“They didn't want me running around left field today,” Hinske said. “Take a day."
Jason Heyward missed his second consecutive game with soreness in his left groin. But he took batting practice Friday and came away pleased. He plans to test it running Saturday and if all goes well, get back in the lineup Sunday.
“If it was the season, [I'd] definitely play [Saturday],” Heyward said. “But now, let's make sure."
Surprise start for 2010 pick
Friday’s split-squad games meant some of the Braves' top young minor league prospects got a chance to play in their first major league games as late-inning players.
Outfielder Todd Cunningham got more than that. The Braves' 2010 second-round pick, 53rd overall, started Friday after Hinske was scratched.
Cunningham learned the news shortly after arriving in full uniform from the minor league locker room in an adjacent building.
“I was just getting a bearing for things,” Cunningham said. “Don’t have a locker, so I’m awkwardly standing in the middle, trying to look like I’ve been here, done that.”
Minor league managers Jonathan Schuerholz and Randy Ingle told Cunningham he might want to check the lineup.
“[I thought] ‘Seriously? Is this a joke?’” Cunningham said. “[Hinske’s name] was scratched out, so it’s like ‘Is someone messing with me?’ It was a pleasant surprise to say the least.”
Cunningham couldn’t text his family before his game because his phone was back in the minor league locker room. He went 0-for-3 and played five innings in the field.
Other 2010 draftees to see action were Joe Leonard and Phil Gosselin. First-round pick Matt Lipka and shortstop prospect Edward Salcedo were invited to camp, but didn't play.
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