Hill Gets Two Hits in Blue Jays Win
The Associated Press
BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) – Tim Whittaker hit a go-ahead single in the ninth inning Wednesday, and a Toronto Blue Jays’ split squad beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 13-11.
Jorge Sequea hit a two-run homer off Joe Beimel in the fourth-run ninth. Ron Davenport doubled, Hector Almonte relieved and Whittaker singled.
Justin Speier pitched one scoreless inning for the win. Craig Wilson hit his fourth homer and drove in three runs for the Pirates. Henry Rodriguez hit a two-run homer and J.J. Davis added a solo shot.
Wilson was 3-for-4 with a solo homer and two-run double. He is batting .444 this spring and seven of eight hits have gone for extra bases.
“He’s swinging the bat well, and I’m pleased,” Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon said. “He’s in a groove now. I hope he’s saving some of this.”
Frank Catalanotta was 2-for-3 with a bases-loaded double for the Blue Jays. Dave Berg and Aaron Hill also had two hits apiece. Josh Phelps hit a two-run double and Guillermo Quiroz added a two-run single.
The Pirates took advantage of two errors and scored six runs in the seventh to take an 11-8 lead. Bubbie Buzachero didn’t retire a batter in the inning and was charged with all six runs.
Pirates starter Rick Reed gave up two runs in three innings. Blue Jays starter Dustin McGowan allowed two runs in two innings.
Larson Homers in Reds Victory
The Associated Press
SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) – Brandon Larson, vying to become Cincinnati’s third baseman, had a two-run homer, double and single Wednesday in the Reds’ 6-1 win over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
Larson has eight RBIs in the last three games and is hitting .462 this spring with two homers. He left with a strained right foot and is day to day.
Victor Zambrano, scheduled to pitch the Devil Rays’ opener against the New York Yankees in Tokyo on March 30, allowed four runs and seven hits in 2 2-3 inning and was the loser.
Adam Dunn had a single, double and RBI groundout.
Jesus Sanchez, a left-hander vying for one of two open spots in the Reds’ rotation, allowed three hits in four scoreless innings with three strikeouts and no walks. He has not allowed a run in seven innings over two starts.
Todd Van Poppel followed with a scoreless inning.
Tampa Bay’s Toby Hall homered off Phil Norton in the sixth. Cincinnati has won four straight, while Tampa Bay has lost three in a row.
Outfielder knocking on Giants’ door
By Rich Draper / MLB.com
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (MLB.com) — The word is Todd Linden will be an integral part of the San Francisco Giants one day. OK, a lot of days.
Period. Exclamation point. No question mark.
Shoot, one year after making his professional debut at Double-A Shreveport in 2002, the former Louisiana State star rocketed to the big leagues last August, knocked his first career homer — a shocking, loge-level blast at Dodger Stadium — and had a game-winning RBI.
Very cool.
Linden played only 18 games with a .211 average in 38 at-bats with San Francisco, but being there was like a first trip to Disneyland, although nothing about it was Mickey Mouse.
“Just to sit up there in the dugout and get a taste of it makes a world of difference,” said the 23-year-old switch-hitter. “I met everyone, had an idea of what to expect. The more time you get up there the easier it will be.”
Up there. That’s his quest, and after batting .278 at Triple-A Fresno last season then hitting .316 with seven doubles, four homers and 15 RBIs in 25 games for the Grand Canyon Rafters in the Arizona Fall League the can’t-miss label still sticks.
Former Major Leaguer Fred Stanley, who managed Linden at Fresno last season, says “Todd will be a complete player when he goes up there in all parts of his game. He has power and potential, quality you don’t see very often. All he needs is more experience.”
At-bats. That’s the ticket. Thousands of them are needed to cue muscle memory, enabling Linden to see a ball fleetingly flick from a pitcher’s hand and without even thinking he’ll know what it is — a sinker or slider or fastball or whatever.
Then he’ll react in the three-tenths of a second allowed him.
“That’s the case with most organizations,” said Linden, a native of Edmonds, Wash. “They want you to get 2,000 or 2,500 at-bats. I’ve played two full years and the Fall League, so I’m knocking on the door at 1,500. I’m getting closer and closer every day — you’re going to get better with practice and repetition.”
Confidence is not an issue with Linden. And small wonder. He was named the Giants organization’s Player of the Year by USA Today in 2002 and the fifth-best Giants prospect by Baseball America last season.
Defensively, Linden displayed his talent in left field against the Cubs on Saturday, leaping high against the fence on a Ramon Martinez blast. The ball popped out of his glove, but Linden caught it, whirled and threw to shortstop Jamie Athas.
Athas’ throw home to catcher A.J. Pierzynski nailed runner Trinidad Hubbard. A great play.
Still, the Giants’ sandwich selection (41st overall) in the 2001 draft takes nothing for granted.
“I know I’m going to make it one day, but I’m not pushing it,” said Linden. “I’m just going to put up numbers. The big thing for me it to work hard and stay strong. I’ve had pretty good luck with my health and I’ve done everything without pushing too hard, preparing myself in the weight room and getting those at-bats.”
He’ll be getting those at Fresno again this season, at least initially. And that’s fine with Linden.
The Giants are loaded with outfielders this season after the acquisition of Dustan Mohr and Michael Tucker, who will vie with veteran Jeffrey Hammonds for the right-field starting job.
One of these days, though, he’ll join the Giants for good.
“I’ve set myself up to succeed,” said Linden.