PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – Luis Vasquez’s spring-training debut didn’t go anything like he and the Braves hoped, but the much-discussed side-armer will get what amounts to a mulligan in the view of manager Fredi Gonzalez.
Vasquez was charged with four runs (all unearned), one hit and two walks and recorded two outs in the eighth inning of Sunday’s 8-2 Grapefruit League loss to the Mets. The 27-year-old had not pitched in a game since straining a lat muscle in his right side in a winter league playoff game in January.
The Mets’ seven-run inning started with Vasquez walking Matt den Dekker. Vasquez fielded a bunt single by the next batter and made an errant throw, allowing Dekker to score. The Mets were off to the races.
“I’m not going to evaluate the young man on his first time when he’s coming back from an injury,” Gonzalez said.
Mike Minor update: He has thrown a couple of bullpen sessions and could make his first spring start within a week, but it's too soon to know whether Mike Minor will be able to avoid a season-opening stint on the 15-day disabled list.
The left-hander couldn’t throw or work out in January after having urinary tract surgery Dec. 31, and had shoulder soreness after ramping up his throwing at the beginning of spring training.
“He feels good,” Braves general manager Frank Wren said. “We’ve still got to play it by ear. It’s going to be close. But we’re not going to do anything foolish to speed it up for one start to make it work. We’ll do what’s right for him and for us.”
Etc. B.J. Upton had a first-inning single and a two-out walk in the third inning after falling behind in the count 1-2….. First baseman/left fielder Mark Hamilton (3-for-4) and utilityman Ramiro Pena (2-for-4) had two doubles apiece and accounted for five of eight Braves hits…. Left fielder Joey Terdoslavich also had an error in the Mets' seven-run eighth inning…. The Braves (2-9-3) face the Phillies in Clearwater Monday, with Brandon Beachy making his second consecutive start against Philadelphia.
