PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- There was a point Sunday afternoon when it looked like Joe Boyle might have lost the strike zone.
After firing a pair of strikes to Oswaldo Cabrera with one out and a runner on first in the first inning, Boyle threw four straight balls and walked him. Up came Pablo Reyes, who took five consecutive pitches for another walk. Boyle took a deep breath, a moment to recalibrate himself on the mound, and bounced back to strike out Jorbit Vivas before getting a first-pitch groundout from Alex Jackson.
It was a relatively low-stakes escape in the first inning of a Spring Training game, but it was another encouraging sign for Boyle in a camp that has been full of promise.
¡°It takes practice. I¡¯ve definitely had outings in the past where I don¡¯t do it, so I¡¯m glad that I¡¯m learning to do it and making those adjustments and getting better at it,¡± Boyle said during the Rays¡¯ 7-5 loss to the Yankees at Charlotte Sports Park. ¡°Because it¡¯s hard. It doesn¡¯t get any easier, but you just get better at doing it.¡±
Boyle¡¯s focus all spring has been harnessing his electric stuff, including a triple-digit fastball, a reliable slider and a devastating splitter. If he can get ahead of hitters and limit his walks ¨C the issue that has held him back in the past ¨C the 25-year-old right-hander could quickly develop into a strong starter in the Majors.
Since joining the Rays, Boyle has only taken steps in the right direction. Working with catcher Danny Jansen, Boyle didn¡¯t walk another batter after that sequence in the first on Sunday. Overall, he allowed six hits and struck out five while throwing 69 pitches over 3 1/3 innings.
¡°When you do that, and you¡¯re intent on throwing the ball over the plate basically every pitch, you¡¯re going to give up some hits. But we¡¯ll take that tradeoff,¡± manager Kevin Cash said. ¡°As he gets more comfortable with that, I think a lot of good results will follow. But we couldn¡¯t be happier with the way he¡¯s thrown the ball.¡±
Pitching coach Kyle Snyder echoed that sentiment, noting the importance of Boyle¡¯s ability to make those on-the-fly adjustments in consecutive outings. Boyle said it¡¯s more of a mental process for him, calming his mind and letting his body do the rest.
¡°Major League pitchers make it within an inning. If he gets to the point where he can make it within an at-bat, then you¡¯re really in trouble,¡± Snyder said. ¡°That¡¯s all about body control and some of the things that we¡¯re trying to reinforce with him.
¡°Really encouraged, just overall, with what he¡¯s done here. He should be flying sky-high right now and realizing his true capabilities.¡±
With an already-crowded rotation, Boyle seems to be on the outside looking in. But he has certainly made a positive impression on the Rays staff this spring, striking out 15 against five walks with five runs (four earned) allowed in 10 2/3 innings.
¡°I¡¯m proud of the work I put in. I¡¯m really grateful to be here, and they¡¯ve definitely expressed their confidence in me,¡± Boyle said. ¡°And that feels really good. I think any player would like to hear that.¡±
Around the horn
? Left fielder Christopher Morel, batting just .182 with a .509 OPS this spring, launched a solo shot over the boardwalk beyond the left-center-field fence in the sixth inning.
¡°That was probably a little bit of a relief for him,¡± Cash said. ¡°He¡¯s been grinding through some at-bats. It¡¯s always good to get into a ball like that.¡±
? After allowing four runs on three hits Friday night against the Twins, Edwin Uceta had a second straight rough outing, allowing a pair of homers against the Yankees.
¡°I know it's a little bit shocking when he gives up anything because of how good he was for us last year -- and [I] fully believe and trust he'll get there,¡± Cash said. ¡°But [he¡¯s had] two back-to-back outings where it's been a little bit trying for him. He'll bounce back.¡±
? Bench coach Rodney Linares managed the Rays¡¯ split-squad 11-5 win against the Nationals on Sunday at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches. It was a big day for outfielder Jake Mangum, who homered twice and drove in four runs, and infield prospect Tanner Murray, who had three hits and a homer. Josh Lowe went 2-for-3 with a homer, his first of the spring.
? With a group of Rays on the east coast of Florida for a game against the Mets on Monday, Opening Day starter Shane McClanahan will pitch in a camp game on Monday morning at Charlotte Sports Park. Right-hander Ryan Pepiot is slated to pitch six innings in a Minor League game on Tuesday, an off-day for the team.