Naoyuki Uwasawa puts on a better show in fourth game for Rays
PORT CHARLOTTE — Naoyuki Uwasawa wasn’t making much of a pitch for himself, struggling through his first three outings on the mound for the Rays as he dealt with a series of adjustments from his work in Japan.
Friday, with time to impress his new Rays bosses running short, he showed more of what he can do in a solid four-inning, one-run, four-hit outing in a 7-2 win over Baltimore.
“Obviously, that was the best one in spring and I’m very happy that I was able to have good results as well,” Uwasawa said, via team interpreter Taishi Terashima.
“The last three outings, I wasn’t being myself on the mound. But (Friday) I slowed down my game and I took my time and I was able to kind of execute my pitches better.”
One of the big adjustments, Uwasawa said, was realizing he didn’t have to rush as much as he had been because of the pitch clock.
Manager Kevin Cash was also pleased, noting some of the work Uwasawa, who signed a minor-league deal, has been doing with pitching coach Kyle Snyder.
“He looked good,” Cash said. “I was happy for him. He needed an outing like that. (Catcher Francisco Mejia), talking in between innings, (was) really complimentary of how the pitches worked well together, complemented each other.
“The split’s a big pitch. (With) Kyle, they’ve worked on it. You’ve got the cutter, the big curveball that he lands early on, but that split is kind of the equalizer (for) swing-and-miss. That’s probably the best we’ve seen him.”
McKay among 3 sent down
Brendan McKay’s drive to get back to the majors after four seasons of injury issues has been praised often during camp. So has his work on the mound.
Though the 28-year-old was among three pitchers sent down Friday, Cash said the Rays were encouraged by what they saw.
“He’s done a nice job,” Cash said. “I think there’s still more work to be done. He knows that. But he’s certainly heading in the right direction, whereas the last year or so you never knew what was going to take place. So he feels good about it now. Just keep getting those innings and see if he can continue to refine the command and the stuff.”
The Rays also optioned lefty starter Jacob Lopez — who Cash said “is going to help us this year, there is no doubt — and reassigned right-handed reliever Michael Gomez.
With the signing of Jake Odorizzi to a minor-league deal, the Rays have 51 players in camp.
Game report: Rays 7, Orioles 2
Jonathan Aranda rapped his team-leading 13th hit of the spring as the Rays (7-11-2) won their third straight. … A six-run seventh inning, fueled by reserves Nick Meyer and Jake Mangum, broke the game open. … Late-inning relievers Phil Maton and Jason Adam combined for the final four outs. ... Harold Ramirez made his eighth start of the spring in the outfield and said he has enjoyed the opportunity: " I feel good. I feel like an athlete.” ... Outfielder Josh Lowe, sidelined since late February with left hip inflammation, is targeting a return to game play on Sunday.
No minor matter
Top prospects Junior Caminero, Carson Williams, Xavier Isaac and Brayden Taylor, plus 94-base stealing speedster Chandler Simpson, are among the Rays’ top participants in Saturday’s prospect game against the Twins. The game will follow the major-league exhibition in Fort Myers, with first pitch around 4:05 and admission included. It is part of MLB’s new Spring Breakout showcase, with each team playing a game. New Double-A Montgomery manager Kevin Boles will lead the squad. There is TV coverage on Bally Sports Sun (and also streamed by ESPN+ and MLB.TV) and radio coverage on raysbaseball.com.
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