Sandoval yearning for one more run

Pablo Sandoval, who won three World Series rings with the Giants, yearns for one more playoff run with the Braves.

In camp on a minorleague deal, the 34yearold faces long odds, with Atlanta having thirdbase options in Austin Riley, Jake Lamb and Johan Camargo as well as younger, more versatile infield bench types as Jason Kipnis and Ehire Adrianza.

Sandoval came to the Braves late last season as emergency help at third. Despite playing only one regularseason game, he was kept for the postseason, going 0for3 with a walk. But he developed a taste for sharing a winning clubhouse again.

“One of the things I told my agent when the season was over, I want to come back no matter what,” Sandoval said Wednesday. “The team last year, it was special.”

Sandoval has familiarity with a winning franchise. “Those five years (with the Giants), this is something similar. This team can be special for a long time because there is such young talent, such a young pitching rotation. A special, similar team,” he said.

Sandoval opened slowly this spring, going 2for11 (.181) with one double. But he’s 7for14 in his past six games, all singles.

For Sandoval, other camps might have been prep work. This spring training is about keeping a career breathing.

“You just don’t know as guys get older, you don’t know when the clock’s going to run out,” manager Brian Snitker said.

Highlights: Walker Buehler tossed four effective innings the Dodgers’ 43 victory over the White Sox . ... Eduardo Rodriguez was selected by Boston manager Alex Cora to start Opening Day after the lefthander pitched five innings of onerun ball in a 91 win over Minnesota. Rodriguez was to start the 2020 opener before contracting the coronavirus and being diagnosed with heart inflammation . ... Tyler Glasnow pitched four innings for Tampa Bay, allowing four runs and six hits in a 109 win over his old team, the Pirates . ... Philadelphia righthander Zack Wheeler tossed five innings of fourhit ball in a 20 win over the Tigers . ... Jordan Montgomery made his third start as the Yankees beat the Blue Jays 10, pitching five nohit innings and lowering his ERA to 0.90. Aaron Judge had two hits . ... The Marlins beat the Mets 32 as Miami righthander Sandy Alcantara continued his impressive spring with five innings of threehit ball, striking out nine . ... Coming off a difficult 2020 season, John Means threw four innings of onerun ball as the Orioles beat Atlanta 52.