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CLEARWATER, Fla. — Phillies starter Paul Clemens pitched two perfect innings, but Philadelphia lost to the University of Tampa 6-2 Sunday in the first spring training game for a major league team this year.
Detroit and Miami play college teams Monday, then the regular slate of Grapefruit and Cactus League exhibitions begins Tuesday.
Russ Canzler, Aaron Altherr and Tommy Joseph strung together three straight one-out hits to put the Phillies ahead 2-0 in the second inning.
After that, Philadelphia hitters did little against the No. 1-ranked team in NCAA Division II. The Phillies are projected to have a tough time all season long.
“It kind of shows where we’re at as far as seeing players and workouts and seeing the work that needs to be done,” said Philadelphia manager Ryne Sandberg, kept the majority of his big league starters out of action.
“I think it just emphasizes that. On the offensive side of things, we stress on staying on top of the ball and creating some balls on the ground. We had too many flyball outs,” he said.
Tampa rallied against the Phillies’ bullpen. After right-hander Nefi Ogando issued a two-out, bases-loaded walk to Andrew Amaro — nephew of Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. — to tie it in the seventh, Giovanny Alfonzo followed by hitting a grand slam off Hector Neris.
“Unbelievable,” Alfonzo said. “It’s a dream come true to play against them. But to beat them, you never think it’s going to happen. I probably won’t sleep for the next three days.”
“Our coach told us he has a split-finger, so in the back of my head I knew,” Alfonzo said of Neris. “I saw it out of his hand and the pitch was dancing. So I just said, ‘Throw the (bat) head at it, throw the head at it,’ and luckily I got it. But it was a big league pitch, for sure.”
Alfonzo is in his second season with the Spartans after transferring from Florida State. He is hitting a team-high .412 in college play.
The game drew an announced crowd of 5,154 to Bright House Field, where it was sunny with temperatures in the mid-70s. It was in the 20s with snow and freezing rain back in Philadelphia.
Yankees’ Rodriguez nearing 1st spring game
TAMPA, Fla. — Alex Rodriguez feels fine after his first week of workouts, and will leave the decision of when he makes his spring training debut to New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi.
The Yankees begin exhibition play Tuesday against Philadelphia at the Phillies’ camp.
“I’ll talk to Joe first,” Rodriguez said Sunday. “If I’m in the lineup, I’ll play, yeah. So far, so good. No setbacks.”
Girardi said he’ll announce Monday whether Rodriguez will be in the lineup for the spring opener.
“Just making sure he’s physically ready to play,” Girardi said.