Allen Webster sharp in 0-0 tie with Marlins
By Rick McNair
Mar 6, 2014; Jupiter, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Allen Webster (64) throws against the Miami Marlins at Roger Dean Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Game time temperature at Roger Dean Stadium, recently profiled by BSI’s Sean Sylver, was an enjoyable 79 degrees, while in my hovel in picturesque Middleboro, Massachusetts it checked in at a game time 22 degrees. I will take palm trees over icicles.
The Red Sox combined excellent pitching with tepid RISP hitting (1-10) in a rain shortened tie game that ended up 0-0.
The Red Sox have been in a rather languished mode this spring training with a 1-5 record going into the dust up with the Marlins. That is now 1-5-1. The Marlins brought out Nathan Eovaldi to start the activities and the Red Sox countered with Allen Webster.
Eovaldi managed to load the bases in the first but got Brandon Snyder on a strikeout to erase any potential damage. The first also featured the first of four strikeouts on the day for Garin Cecchini.
Webster, treated rudely in his last outing, tossed his zero in his half of the first. Jarrod Saltalamacchia flied out in his first plate appearance against his former mates for the highlight of the inning.
Webster finished his three inning stint allowing just one hit and getting a strikeout. Webster also kept the ball down getting seven ground-outs in his impressive outing.
In the 4th the Sox started to make some noise against the Marlins Brad Hand.
With one gone Bryce Brentz and Deven Marrero singled. After a Heiker Meneses strikeout and a Jackie Bradley walk the bases, as in the first, were loaded. This time it was Hassan’s turn to get three pegged onto his LOB total with a fly out. Another lost opportunity.
Drake Britton followed Webster and in his two innings allowing a hit, one walk and one strikeout and turned the mound over to Alex Wilson. Wilson completed his one inning issuing a walk.
Miguel Celestino came in for a clean seventh. The Marlins after seven had managed just two hits, a first inning single by Giancarlo Stanton and a fifth inning double by Marcell Ozuna, off the Sox pitching prospects. Then on came the top of the 8th and the rain.
In that 8th with two gone Marrero, now hitting .500, got his second hit of the day and that signaled a cloud burst. After a wait it was game over and a 0-0 final.