Wright awaiting fate regarding Braves' rotation

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- Kyle Wright was attempting to extend his impressive spring with the Braves and possibly cement a spot in the starting rotation. But the right-hander didn’t make it out of the first inning in Atlanta’s 8-1 loss to Tampa Bay on Thursday afternoon.

Wright went just two-thirds of an inning, giving up six runs on four hits, including a pair of three-run homers. He walked two and struck out two.

“I made a few mistakes and they did a good job of hitting them,” Wright said. “I fell behind in the count on the first home run and he [Brandon Lowe] put a good swing on it. And then the same thing on the second home run, I fell behind 3-1. I actually threw a pretty decent 3-1 changeup, but [Nate Lowe] did a good job of staying back just enough and hitting it out.

“I didn’t pitch great. But they also hit my mistakes. They did a good job.”

The inning went south for Wright on the second batter he faced. After striking out Rays leadoff hitter Matt Duffy, Wright worked a full count on Tommy Pham before walking him on a borderline call. Instead of two outs and nobody on base, Tampa Bay started the merry-go-round.

“It was a close pitch,” Wright said. “He called it a ball, and I’ve got to accept that and move on. For me, I’ve just got to do a better job of flushing pitches like that and moving on to the next hitter and locking in on that hitter.

“I really didn’t want to give any free passes. So if a guy beats me, then I tip the cap. It just means I’ve got to do a better job of executing pitches next go around.”

A single and a three-run home run by Brandon Lowe followed, opening the floodgates. Another single and the second walk of the inning for Wright -- who came into the game with two walks for the entire spring -- set up the second three-run home run of the inning, a blast over the right-field fence by Nate Lowe.

“I’ve got to be able to just move on a little bit better to the next hitter,” Wright said. “Sometimes I let the previous hitter carry over to the next hitter.”

The 23-year-old Wright came into the game having allowed just four runs over four spring starts, posting a 3.00 ERA with 16 strikeouts in 12 innings. It had been a solid camp that thrust him into the picture as a viable candidate for the starting rotation.

“He’s had an outstanding spring,” said bench coach Walt Weiss. “If he does give up a hard-hit ball, he’s attacking the next hitter. I’ve been very impressed by that.”

Wright threw 31 pitches (17 strikes) on Thursday, but he did not have command of a fastball that clocked in consistently at 95 miles per hour.

Wright made his Major League debut -- becoming the first player from the 2017 Draft class to reach the Majors -- and appeared in four games for the Braves last season, allowing three runs over six innings. Now he waits to see if Atlanta trusts him enough to put him in the starting rotation.

“Today was a bad day, unfortunately it happens, all you can do is learn from it and be better next time out,” Wright said. “I thought I pitched well this camp. I just wanted to come in and attack the zone and pitch as good as I could. I feel like I accomplished that.”

Riley continues to show pop

Non-roster invitee Austin Riley continues to display strength with his bat. The 21-year-old third baseman belted his second home run of the spring in his first at-bat on Thursday. The 6-foot-3, 220-pounder went the opposite way to provide the Braves with their lone run.

“He’s a big, strong kid,” said Weiss. “He looks good on both sides of the ball. He’s a good defender, too, and has big power to all fields.”

Riley also hit two home runs in 12 Grapefruit League games last season for the Braves. In his final at-bat Thursday, he sent a long fly ball to right field that was caught at the fence. He went 1-for-3 and is hitting .271 this spring.

Up next

The Braves will host the Tigers at 6:05 p.m. ET on Friday at Champion Stadium, with Opening Day starter Julio Teheran getting the nod. The righty will be making his fourth Grapefruit League start. Despite an outstanding spring, Teheran is still looking for his first win. He comes in with an 0-2 record and a 3.00 ERA, with 16 strikeouts and only one walk over 12 innings. Teheran will be opposed by Detroit right-hander Tyson Ross.