Call to the pen
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MLB Spring Training: Travis Demeritte states his case

By Bill Felber

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - AUGUST 02: Travis Demeritte #50 of the Detroit Tigers prepares for his first Major League at bat in the top of the first inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington on August 02, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - AUGUST 02: Travis Demeritte #50 of the Detroit Tigers prepares for his first Major League at bat in the top of the first inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington on August 02, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
(Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /

MLB Spring Training Recap: March 2

Loser: Aristides Aquino, Cincinnati Reds outfielder

A bad MLB spring training got significantly worse for Aquino, who not long ago figured to be a centerpiece of the Reds’ push for the NL Central flag.

Aristides Aquino went 0-for-2 with a strikeout against the Dodgers in Monday’s 6-2 Reds victory. He is now hitless in 14 spring at-bats. But that wasn’t the worst of it for Aquino.

In the fifth inning, Aquino took a Josiah Gray fastball off his fists and had to leave the game. The Reds and Aquino will both have to sweat out the medical reports and hope the injury is not serious.

Winner: Asher Wojciechowski, Baltimore Orioles pitcher

Obviously there are opportunities aplenty on the Orioles mound staff, but Asher Wojciechowski is one guy the O’s are counting on.

Coming off a 4-8 season in which he made 16 starts, Wojciechowski is projected to take a regular turn in 2020. Against the Tampa Bay Rays Monday, he worked a solid three innings, allowing just one baserunner, that on a base on balls.

Through five spring innings now, Wojciechowski has allowed just one run and just two hits. He has more strikeouts (four) than baserunners allowed (three). The game ended in a 3-3 tie.

Winner: Travis Demeritte, Detroit Tigers outfielder

Demeritte is competing for a backup outfield spot, so he needs days like he enjoyed Monday against the Red Sox.

Inserted into the sixth inning of Monday’s game against the Red Sox as a pinch hitter, Demeritte homered with a runner on base, reducing a 7-1 Tiger deficit to 7-3.

He flew out in the eighth in what appeared at the time to be his final at-bat. After all, the Tigers still trailed 11-5 at that point. In the ninth, however, Detroit cobbled together a late rally founded on three singles and a pair of walks. With two out, runners at first and second and Boston’s lead reduced to 11-8, Adam Lau was summoned to the mound to face Demeritte.

Demeritte launched another home over the left-field wall, this one tying the game at 11-11. When Lau retired the next batter, that’s the way the game ended.

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