The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
» Wright works in and out of trouble in his first pitching start of the spring,
Though struggling, he pitches his way out of deep trouble.
NORTH PORT, FLA. — The Braves took a look at Kyle Wright in a starting role Friday as the competition continues for the final two spots in the season-opening pitching rotation.
After working five scoreless innings out of the bullpen in two previous spring training outings, Wright allowed two runs on three hits in 3⅓ innings as the starter in an exhibition game against the Boston Red Sox at CoolToday Park. He struck out five and walked two in a game the Braves eventually won 7-5.
Wright allowed one baserunner (a walk) in the first two innings before the Red Sox bunched three hits in the third inning.
“It wasn’t bad,” Wright said of his outing. “I felt like I probably went to a few too many 3-2 counts. That’s one thing I wish I had done — keep my pitch count down — so in future outings I could go deeper into ballgames.
“I felt pretty happy with the way I commanded my off-speed pitches. I really had no two-seam (fastball) today; it was pretty bad. A couple of balls got to the holes (in the third inning). ... I did a decent job of limiting the damage.”
Mike Soroka, Max Fried and Mike Foltynewicz hold the top three spots in the Braves’ five-man rotation. With Cole Hamels sidelined, Sean Newcomb and Felix Hernandez appear to be the front-runners for the final two berths, with Wright also in the mix.
“He wasn’t real sharp, but he got himself in trouble and managed through it,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said of Wright. “He kept things in order a little bit and didn’t let it get out of control, even though it was kind of a struggle for him.”
To give Wright the start in what otherwise would have been Fried’s turn, the Braves had Fried pitch in a minorleague intrasquad game on a back field.
Other notes from Friday:
■ The Braves made their first flurry of roster moves of spring training, sending 13 players to the minor leagues.
Pitchers Jacob Webb and Bryse Wilson, both of whom were on the big-league team for part of last season, were optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett, as were pitchers Jasseel De La Cruz and Huascar Ynoa.
■ Utilityman Charlie Culberson, competing for a spot on the Braves’ bench, delivered a three-run triple to left-center field in the eighth inning to put the Braves ahead.
■ Relief pitcher Shane Greene worked two scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out three.
■ Infielder Adeiny Hechavarria, who has been sidelined with a strained oblique, is expected to play shortstop in today’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays.