CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP)—Until someone tells Shane Victorino he’s the Philadelphia Phillies’ fourth outfielder, he isn’t celebrating.
Victorino had three hits, including two doubles, drove in two runs and scored twice, leading the Philadelphia Phillies over the Cleveland Indians 5-1 Monday.
Gavin Floyd allowed one run and four hits in six innings, keeping up his string of impressive outings for the Phillies this spring training.
The 25-year-old Victorino was the International League’s Most Valuable Player at Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre last season and played well in September during Philadelphia’s playoff chase. After the Phillies traded Jason Michaels to the Indians, Victorino moved up the depth chart behind starters Bobby Abreu, Pat Burrell and Aaron Rowand.
However, the switch-hitting Victorino isn’t taking his spot for granted.
“From everything I’ve heard and read, I feel comfortable,” Victorino said. “But no one from management told me I’m the fourth outfielder, so I’m a little on edge.”
Victorino shouldn’t worry, especially after hitting .310 with 18 homers, 16 triples, 17 steals and 70 RBIs at Scranton. The Phillies plan to give him plenty of at-bats.
“Whatever my role is, I’m going to do my best,” Victorino said. “It’s all I ever wanted.”
Victorino was selected by the Phillies in the December 2004 winter meeting draft but was offered back to the Los Angeles Dodgers last spring. He passed through waivers and ended up having an outstanding season in the minors.
“There’s always doubters in this game,” Victorino said.
Floyd probably won’t be in Philadelphia’s starting rotation unless one of the top five—Jon Lieber, Brett Myers, Cory Lidle, Ryan Franklin and Ryan Madson—gets hurt this week.
“I’m not worrying about it,” Floyd said. “I don’t expect anything.”
The fourth player overall selected in the 2001 amateur draft, Floyd had a disastrous season last year in a short stint with the Phillies and at Scranton. But he has regained the form that made him the organization’s top right-handed pitching prospect. Floyd is 4-0 with a 2.08 ERA, giving up 17 hits and walking just seven in 21 2-3 innings.
Indians starter Paul Byrd gave up two runs and five hits in six innings in his third straight solid outing. Byrd went 12-11 with a 3.74 ERA in 31 starts for the Los Angeles Angels last season, before signing a two-year, $14.25 million contract with Cleveland.
Victorino doubled and scored on Chase Utley’s fielder’s choice grounder in the first. Victorino’s RBI single in the second gave the Phillies a 2-0 lead. He had an RBI double off Fernando Cabrera in the seventh that made it 3-1.
Aaron Boone led off the third with his fourth homer, a shot into the left-field seats.
Michaels, now the Indians’ regular left fielder, robbed his best friend, Pat Burrell, of extra bases with an outstretched, leaping catch on a hard liner with two runners on to end the first inning.
Let's Go Tribe!
The Good Phight