The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Porcello hit by ground ball
Cy Young winner pulled after yielding home run, double.
Reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Rick Porcello was struck on the pitching hand by Yoenis Cespedes’ fourth-inning grounder during his start Wednesday for the Boston Red Sox against a New York Mets split squad in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
The 28-year-old righthander tried to finish the inning but left after giving up a home run to Jay Bruce and a double to Lucas Duda.
“It’s fine right now,” Porcello said. “It happens quickly, so you’re just trying to get the sting out of it. I was able to throw a couple of pitches, and the second warmup pitch I was able to get down in the zone, and didn’t think it would affect me making pitches.”
Making his second exhibition outing, Porcello gave up a run in the third when Curtis Granderson came home from third as Neil Walker was caught stealing second. Porcello struck out Tim Tebow looking with a 92 mph fastball in the third in the former NFL quarterback’s first spring training at-bat.
“I felt really good,” Porcello said. “The ball was coming out of my hand a lot better. I’ve got a couple of mechanical things I’m still battling.”
Meanwhile, Tebow had a rough first game for New York. He struck out twice, grounded into a double play, was hit by a pitch and trapped off first base while batting eighth.
Tebow came up with the bases loaded and bounced into a double play against Noe Ramirez. A run scored on the grounder, but Tebow didn’t get credit for an RBI.
His third time up, Tebow was plunked in the right shoulder by a pitch and got doubled off first base on a line drive. Tebow struck out in his last try.
The 29-year-old Tebow won the 2007 Heisman Trophy at Florida. He signed a minor league contract with the Mets last fall and is in camp this year as an outfielder.
Royals: Kansas City reassigned prospect Josh Staumont to minor league camp and optioned Kyle Zimmer to Double-A Northwest Arkansas, meaning neither of the young pitchers will make the team out of spring training.
World Classic
Netherlands 6, Taiwan 4: Jurickson Profar drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the ninth inning in Tokyo as the Netherlands improved to 2-0 in Pool A and advanced to the second round along with Israel (also 2-0). South Korea and Taiwan failed to advance.
Japan 3, Australia 1: Japan improved to 2-0 in Pool B at Tokyo Dome as Sho Nakata hit a solo home run in the seventh inning and Yoshitomo Tsutsugo added a two-run homer in the eighth.
Cuba 6, China 0: Roel Santos hit a two-run triple as Cuba scored four runs in the fourth inning in Tokyo.