‘Folty’ looks to earn spot in rotation

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA. — Right-hander Mike Foltynewicz on Tuesday began his audition for the Braves’ final rotation spot by pitching two scoreless innings against the Cardinals.

The Braves signed three veteran starters to join the rotation this season behind ace Julio Teheran. That leaves Foltynewicz vying for the last open slot after he started 22 games last season, posting a 4.31 ERA with 111 strikeouts and 35 walks over 1231/3 innings.

“I knew coming in it wasn’t going to be handed to me,” Foltynewicz said. “I’m just going to go out there and work my butt off like I do every day.

“Especially this year, with being healthy and not playing catch-up, I’m going to go out there and do all I can to try to win a spot.”

Foltynewicz allowed two hits and a walk in the first inning and pitched a perfect second.

He limited the damage in the first inning with some alert defense. After leadoff hitter Magneuris Sierra singled, Foltynewicz picked him off first base. Kolten Wong followed with a single and Stephen Piscotty walked to bring up Matt Adams.

Foltynewicz caught Wong taking a big lead off second base and ran at him to start a rundown. Third baseman Rio Ruiz tagged Wong before turning and throwing to first to get Piscotty, who was scurrying back after trying to take second.

“That’s the reason why we get here at 7, 8 (a.m.) and practice two or three hours before the game,” Foltynewicz said. “That’s the stuff that saves you a game, saves you a (big) inning. That could have been easily a multirun inning. With the pickoff and the head’s-up play at third, that got me out of a jam there.”

In the second inning Foltynewicz struck out Adams and retired Jedd Gyorko and Jose Martinez on grounders. He threw 31 pitches over the two innings with 19 strikes.

“The curveball was good,” Foltynewicz said. “The slider wasn’t really there. The change-up was good. Everything was around the zone so I was kind of happy with it.”

Foltynewicz is enjoying good health this spring after injuries set him back last year. His 2015 season ended in September when blood clots were discovered in his throwing shoulder. He had surgery to remove part of a rib under the shoulder and was still recovering when spring training began in 2016.

“It’s just good to be healthy out there, throwing every single day and not playing catch-up with everybody else and getting my daily work in,” he said.

Family reunion: Brothers Adonis and Adolis Garcia reunited before the Braves and Cardinals played. Outfielder Adolis Garcia signed a minor-league contract with the Cardinals on Friday and accompanied the bigleague club for its game vs. the Braves. His older brother, Adonis, is projected to return for a second season as the Braves’ regular third baseman.

Adonis, 31, said he last saw Adolis, 24, during the Caribbean Series in winter 2016.

Adolis left Cuba in August and is seeking to play in the majors.

Adonis Garcia was in the starting lineup but Adolis didn’t play because he has yet to obtain a work visa.