Tyler Glasnow threw four innings of shutout baseball Thursday, but the Atlanta Braves were able to scratch across a pair of runs on the bullpen and defeat the Tampa Bay Rays 2-0 at CoolToday Park in Grapefruit league action.
Rays pitcher Tyler Glasnow threw four shutout innings in North Port, allowing just one hit and striking out seven Atlanta Braves. (photo: Will Vragovic/Tampa Bay Rays)
Glasnow, who threw three simulated innings Saturday in the batting cages in Port Charlotte due to inclement weather, retired 11 Braves hitters in a row, and allowed just one hit, a leadoff single by Ronald Acuna Jr. in the first inning, and a walk while striking out seven. He said afterward he used the new slider he’s been working on with pitching coach Kyle Snyder more in this game than any other pitch.
“Timing was good,” Glasnow said. “I think incorporating the slider and changeup made everything a lot easier too. I think just the confidence of knowing that I have some other stuff I can throw for strikes kind of gets hitters off-balance and then I just have more confidence going into the at-bat.”
“That’s the Glas you want to see out there,” catcher Kevan Smith said after the game. “Not thinking, trusting his stuff, and just being athletic and just being confident with all of his pitches.”
Rays bats managed just three hits on the afternoon, with Yoshi Tsutsugo singles in the top of the first inning off Kyle Wright. Nathan Lukes had the other two hits on the afternoon, a double in the third off Wright, and a single in the sixth off reliever Nathan Jones.
Both of Atlanta’s runs gave off solo homers once Glasnow exited the game. Acuna led off the sixth with his first home run of the spring off reliever Collin McHugh, and Michael Harris homered with two out in the seventh off Pete Fairbanks.
Tampa Bay heads back to Fort Myers Friday to take on the Boston Red Sox. Chris Archer will make his first start of the spring, taking on Garrett Richards. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05.