Spring Training Report 4.1.15
By Jacob Mayer
Potential Gwinnett Braves outfielder Joe Benson slugged his first home run of Spring Training for the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday in a 9–2 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Benson drove the second pitch he saw from the Phillies’ Opening Day starter Cole Hamels over the right field fence in the second inning for Atlanta’s first run of the game in Clearwater, Fla.
Although he is not on the Braves’ 40-man roster nor a non-roster invitee, Benson has played in nine Major League games this spring, including each of the last five. He finished Wednesday’s game 1-for-4 with two strikeouts. Overall, he has batted .250 (3-for-12) with the home run, two runs scored, two runs batted in and three walks against four strikeouts in Braves Spring Training.
Other possible G-Braves position players’ stats from Wednesday against Philadelphia:
Todd Cunningham (RF), 1-for-3, BB.
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Pedro Ciriaco (LF-3B), 1-for-3, R.
Jesus Flores ©, 1-for-2, BB.
Joey Terdoslavich (LF), 0-for-1, K.
A pair of potential G-Braves relievers covered the final two innings against the Phillies. Right-hander Aaron Kurcz threw 1 1/3 innings, giving up two unearned runs on one hit and one walk with three strikeouts and two wild pitches. Fellow righty John Cornely struck out two batters after he took over for Kurcz in the eighth, although Philadelphia left fielder Russ Canzler reached base on a fielder error by Terdoslavich that allowed third baseman Andres Blanco to score the Phillies’ final run of the game.
The Braves will wrap up their Grapefruit League schedule with three games against the Baltimore Orioles. The first contest is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. Thursday at Champion Stadium in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
-JM
