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Rays journal: Snell struggles with command again

 
Tampa Bay Rays catcher Curt Casali, left, chats with starting pitcher Blake Snell as he struggles against the Baltimore Orioles during the second inning of a spring training baseball game Tuesday, March 14, 2017, in Sarasota, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) FLCO111
Tampa Bay Rays catcher Curt Casali, left, chats with starting pitcher Blake Snell as he struggles against the Baltimore Orioles during the second inning of a spring training baseball game Tuesday, March 14, 2017, in Sarasota, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) FLCO111
Published March 15, 2017

LHP Blake Snell was scheduled to pitch five innings Tuesday against the Orioles in Sarasota. He didn't make it through three.

Lack of command was the issue.

A breakdown in his mechanics that forced his left shoulder to fly open during his delivery and his pitches to drift toward the left side of the plate resulted in a five-walk, 60-pitch, 22/3-inning outing that included 32 balls.

"He definitely has to iron that out," pitching coach Jim Hickey said. "He has to get in that strike zone."

Snell has made four starts. He matched his longest Tuesday.

"This next outing is an important one for him," Hickey said. "He needs to get deep in the ballgame, at least into the fifth inning, because he hasn't been close yet. We need to get over that hurdle real quick here."

Snell is aware of his mechanical issue. He corrected it during the first inning of his first outing this spring. "I know what I'm doing wrong, so I know what I need to do right," he said. "Just need to do it is the bottom line."

Kiermaier out by a neck

CF Kevin Kiermaier was scratched in Sarasota after taking batting practice due to a recurrence of the stiff neck that sidelined him earlier for four days, but manager Kevin Cash expects it to be a one-day thing. "I think he's fine, very confident he'll be DH-ing for us" today, Cash said. "It's just something that we don't want to see flare up."

Odorizzi's plan of deception

With the Yankees the opponent in his last start as well as his first of the regular season, likely No. 2 starter RHP Jake Odorizzi was trying to not pitch like Jake Odorizzi in Port Charlotte.

That meant the first use of his cutter and more work on the slider he plans to incorporate into his repertoire, and fewer fastballs and changeups.

"When you face a team twice and they happen to be your opening day opponent, you don't tend to show them a lot of your go-to stuff," he said. "I was more focused on offspeed and just kind of putting that in their head a little bit. So show it, and once it's the season everything is a little bit different. I got my work in, that's for sure."

What hurt was a combination of gusting winds that Odorizzi said were actually pushing his slow curveball and a lack of feel for some of his pitches.

Game report: Rays beat Yankees 10-6

In Port Charlotte, RHP Shawn Tolleson made a so-so return from back spasms, allowing a hit and a walk in facing five batters, with his velocity still below his typical 92-93 mph. Tolleson said he was happy to be healthy and expected to get sharper. … Manager Kevin Cash praised RHP prospects Jaime Schulz and Austin Pruitt for their relief work. … The game turned on a 12-batter six-run fifth inning, keyed by a two-run Dayron Varona homer.… Rickie Weeks showed his veteran savvy earlier, playing the strong wind to right with a liner that went out for his third spring homer.

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Game report: Rays beat Orioles 9-6

In Sarasota, LF Corey Dickerson was 4-for-4, RF Steven Souza Jr. had three hits and three RBIs in four at-bats. … 3B Justin Leonard doubled off Orioles RHP Darren O'Day. … The Rays scored twice in the first inning after there were two outs on singles by Dickerson, Souza, 1B Casey Gillaspie and C Curt Casali.

Spring things

. RHP Chris Archer is back in camp, slated to pitch as scheduled Thursday, albeit in a minor-league game, and planning to rejoin Team USA if it reaches the WBC finals to pitch March 22. Manager Kevin Cash said RHP Jose De Leon, who pitched Monday, won't be joining the Puerto Rico WBC team.

. RHP Alex Cobb also will throw in a minor-league game Thursday in Port Charlotte.

. RHP Brad Boxberger (lat/back) feels good and will throw another bullpen session today, has no date for a spring debut and remains confident he "definitely" will be ready for opening day.

. Usual 1B coach Rocco Baldelli was the bench coach in Port Charlotte as manager Kevin Cash wanted to "get Rocco off his feet for a day."

. Minor-league OF Braxton Lee got to start in Kevin Kiermaier's original place in Sarasota and got two hits, one off Orioles ace closer Zach Britton.