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Feb. 24 winners and losers – the Astros take it to the road

By Bill Felber

AMPA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 24: Gerrit Cole #45 of the New York Yankees delivers a pitch in the first inning during the spring training game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Steinbrenner Field on February 24, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
AMPA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 24: Gerrit Cole #45 of the New York Yankees delivers a pitch in the first inning during the spring training game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Steinbrenner Field on February 24, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
(Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

Winner: Cubs catchers.

Josh Phegley, who is trying to make the Cubs roster as a third catcher, got the start Monday vs. the Seattle Mariners. A non-roster invitee, Phegley needs a big spring, perhaps even more so given the spring start Cubs catchers have gotten off to. The team’s two primary catchers, Willson Contreras and Victor Caratini, were a combined 3-for-4 with two home runs in the first two spring games.

That’s a tough pace to keep up with, but Phegley gave it a shot. Against the Mariners, he went 2-for-3 with a first inning home run of his own and three RBIs. The Cubs won 16-12

Winner: Nicky Delmonico, Chicago White Sox outfielder.

To this point in his three-season big league career, Delmonico is most closely remembered for Steve Stone’s description of his name as “the girl your mother warned you about.” On Monday, Delmonico gave Sox fans reason to hope Delmonico might threaten the welfare of opposing teams.

In camp this year as a non-roster invitee, Delmonico delivered a three-hit performance that included a single off Dodger starter Ross Stripling as well as a double. Coming off a 2019 season in which he batted .206, it was the kind of performance Delmonico needed to restore his reputation.

Winners: Cole, Gallen

Two guys being looked on to lead their rotations debuted with strong performances Monday.

In Tampa, Gerrit Cole made a modest one-inning debut for the Yankees against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He kept it uneventful, fanning Bryan Reynolds and Josh Bell while issuing one base on balls.

Meanwhile at Scottsdale Stadium, Zac Gallen – the wunderkind who Arizona envisions as having ace potential – delivered a remarkable two hitless innings. Giants batters approached hitting against Gallen like they all had to go to the bathroom. Of the six batters the D-Backs starter faced, five went down on the first pitch and the sixth fanned on three pitches. That’s six batters retired on eight pitches, all of them strikes.

Winner: Jose Ramirez, Cleveland third baseman.

Many eyes are focused on Jose Ramirez this spring, wondering whether he will bounce back from an indifferent couple of recent seasons. He’s coming off a 2019 season in which he fell to .255 with 23 home runs, his low since becoming a regular in 2016. His .806 OPS was a personal low.

In Colorado’s 12-8 victory Monday, Ramirez delivered two hits, one a double, and drove in a pair of runs.

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