Price: ‘No timetable’ on return to Sox BASEBALL ROUNDUP
The next time Francisco Rodriguez pitches in a game, he figures to be a little more fired up. The Detroit closer had control trouble Saturday in his only action before joining Venezuela for the World Baseball Classic, walking two in a brief stint. Rodriguez had been scheduled to take the mound Wednesday, but the outing was pushed back due to hamstring tightness. Instead, he relieved in the fifth inning against the New York Yankees and exited with the bases loaded and two outs. “Overall, I feel great,” Rodriguez said. “My body feels great. Threw the pitches I normally do during the season, which is what I care about.” The right-hander started the inning by getting a fly ball from Starlin Castro and striking out Chase Headley on a 3-2 pitch. After walking Ronald Torreyes on a full count and giving up Clint Frazier’s single, Rodriguez’s day ended when Dustin Fowler drew a walk that loaded the bases. “Lost my command with the third batter, and after that couldn’t put it together,” Rodriguez said. “I wanted to throw strikes. I took velocity off to try and locate, and that’s when I pretty much lost my command.” All three runners wound up scoring after Jairo Labourt took over. The Yankees won 11-1. Michael Pineda struck out five straight batters, four on sliders, in his spring debut for the Yankees. Gary Sanchez, who hit 20 home runs in 53 games in his rookie season, had a two-run shot off Anibal Sanchez. Aaron Hicks also homered off Sanchez, tagged for four earned runs on five hits and two walk in 1 2/3 innings.
Houston pitcher Lance McCullers felt strong following Saturday’s simulated game. His next stop could be a Grapefruit League mound, maybe as early as next week. McCullers has been on a tailored throwing program this spring as he works his way back from an elbow strain that shortened his 2016 season. He threw 43 pitches to catcher Evan Gattis on a back field in an outing that simulated three innings, showcasing a fastball that touched 95 mph.
Mets 3, Astros 1
In Jacob deGrom’s first start of any kind since an elbow injury on Sept. 1 and subsequent ulnar nerve surgery, he hit 97 mph on the radar and went six up, six down on 26 pitches against the Astros’ opening day lineup. Carlos Beltran hit his second home run for Houston.
Pirates 3, Red Sox 2
Productive all-purpose player Josh Harrison of Pittsburgh announced he would play for the U.S. team at the WBC as a replacement for Cardinals infielder Matt Carpenter. David Freese and Jose Osuna hit RBI singles and Andrew McCutchen had a hit and a sacrifice fly. Boston’s Chris Young hit a two-run homer off Wade LeBlanc.