D-backs’ key roster decisions pay off vs. Dodgers
LOS ANGELES — As they acquired all the way down to the ultimate week of Spring Training, the D-backs confronted some closing roster choices.
In the tip, the D-backs went with Nelson, however shocked some by retaining Jameson as a reliever. And they selected Lewis primarily based on his torrid spring on the plate.
Let’s begin with Jameson, who had not pitched in aid since his days at Ball State University. But when supervisor Torey Lovullo advised him he had made the roster as a reliever, he was all in on making the adjustment.
Friday, with Merrill Kelly nearing the underside of his fuel tank at 74 pitches with runners at first and second and two outs within the fourth, Lovullo summoned the rookie from the ’pen.
“It’s a little different,” Jameson stated of the aid position. “You’ve got to get ready a lot faster. You’re sitting down there, you don’t know. So the adrenaline is not really there and then you hear your name and you’re like, ‘Oh crap,’ and you’ve got to get going. And then when you’re running out to the mound it’s a little bit of a different adrenaline.”
Jameson confirmed zero nerves on the mound as he allowed only a pair of hits — one among which was a Mookie Betts’ homer, over 4 innings.
“He really controlled the game,” Lovullo stated. “And we won this game because of Drey Jameson.”
With assist from Lewis, in fact, whom the D-backs acquired in an offseason take care of the Mariners. He is anticipated to get begins at DH towards left-handers.
Lewis hit leadoff for the D-backs on Opening Day towards southpaw Julio Urías, and went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. Friday, with a right-hander on the mound for the Dodgers, Lewis was on the bench to begin the sport.
As the innings wore on, he would go all the way down to the batting cage and take some swings to attempt to keep scorching and prepared, checking the lineup to see when a pinch-hit spot would possibly roll round for him.
When the D-backs noticed left-hander Alex Vesia start warming up within the seventh inning, Lewis started speaking with hitting coaches Joe Mather and Damion Easley about how he would strategy an at-bat towards Vesia.
“I kind of had my eye on maybe slider down and in,” Lewis stated. “They’ve been kind of attacking me that way. So I just wanted to see if I can get short with my swing.”
After Evan Longoria pinch-hit and doubled with one out, Lovullo despatched Lewis as much as hit for Josh Rojas and Vesia missed with a slider down earlier than coming down and in with a slider. Lewis fouled it off after which took a excessive fastball to run the depend to 2-1.
Vesia then tried to go down and in with one other slider, however left this one up and Lewis crushed it into the left-field bleachers.
“Just trying to be short to the ball, trying to be simple to it and just try to compete honestly, try to compete, have a competitive at-bat, keep the line moving the best I could. And especially after Longo put the double down in the corner it was cool to follow that up and get us two runs.”
Spring Training statistics might not depend within the common season, however as Friday night time confirmed, choices made on the finish of camp will pay massive dividends.
