EJECTIONS ENSUE IN SPRING GAME
FLA.» Three CLEARWATER, pitchers were ejected along with Philadelphia manager Gabe Kapler and bench coach Rob Thomson as three batters were hit by pitches during the Phillies’ 6-2 exhibition loss to Detroit on Thursday.
Tigers starter Matthew Boyd and Philadelphia relievers Parker Frazier and Pedro Beato also were tossed by plate umpire Tom Hallion.
Boyd was ejected in the fifth inning following a two-pitch sequence to Odubel Herrera.
“The first one that went over his head, I looked up as I was making the delivery and he was bailing out of the box,” Boyd said. “It was like he wasn’t ready or something, and it slipped. The next one, I was just throwing a two-seamer in, and it really wasn’t that in. Wasn’t trying to hit him. You don’t want to harm somebody.”
Herrera appeared to get out of the way of the second pitch. Hallion determined the ball hit him on the hand.
“It was crazy,” Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire said. “I guess once the precedent was decided that he thought we threw intentionally at him, I guess decided he had to set the tone. It was nothing intentional about anything.”
Frazier and Kapler were tossed after the minorleaguer hit Derek Hill with a 76 mph pitch in the eighth inning.
Beato and Thomson were ejected after Dylan Rosa was hit in the ninth.
“We had a young minorleaguer in the game; he’s just trying to make a good impression,” Kapler said of Frazier. “Threw a slider and it backed up and hit somebody. Beato is trying to make the club and make the best possible impression on everybody. Balls are going to get away from guys. It’s part of the game.”
Bundy to get first start for O’s.
Dylan Bundy has been picked to start the Baltimore Orioles’ season opener against Minnesota next Thursday.
The 24-year-old righthander led the Orioles in wins last season, when he was 13-9 with a 4.24 ERA.
Bundy beat out Gandview High School graduate Kevin Gausman, who started last year’s opener, and Chris Tillman, the starter of the previous three. Last year was Bundy’s first season in the O’s rotation.
Davis makes Indians.
ARIZ.» Rajai GOODYEAR,
Davis made it all the way back with the Cleveland Indians.
Mike Napoli remains on the outside. Davis, who hit perhaps the most memorable home run in club history during the 2016 World Series, was told by manager Terry Francona that he will be on Cleveland’s opening-day roster. The 37-year-old outfielder signed a minor-league contract with the club last month.
Mets’ Montero most likely done for season.
NEW
Mets right-hander Rafael Montero probably will miss the season after tearing a ligament in his pitching elbow.
New York said Thursday that the 27-year-old has a complete tear of the ulnar collateral ligament and will likely need Tommy John surgery.
Montero was 5-11 with a 5.52 ERA in 18 starts and 16 relief appearances last year. He gave up 13 runs — nine earned — and 12 hits in nine innings during spring training.