Updating Chen and Gausman at minor league complex

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  Roch Kubatko

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  March 20, 2015 4:02 pm

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SARASOTA, Fla. – Wei-Yin Chen and Kevin Gausman got in their work this afternoon on adjacent fields at the Twins Lakes Park complex.
That was pretty much the goal besides staying healthy.
Chen and Gausman were facing Single-A teams in the Red Sox organization. Chen, pitching for the Frederick Keys, allowed one run and two hits in five-plus innings, with one walk and three strikeouts. Gausman, pitching for the Delmarva Shorebirds, allowed two hits and struck out four in four scoreless…

SARASOTA, Fla. – Wei-Yin Chen and Kevin Gausman got in their work this afternoon on adjacent fields at the Twins Lakes Park complex.

That was pretty much the goal besides staying healthy.

Chen and Gausman were facing Single-A teams in the Red Sox organization. Chen, pitching for the Frederick Keys, allowed one run and two hits in five-plus innings, with one walk and three strikeouts. Gausman, pitching for the Delmarva Shorebirds, allowed two hits and struck out four in four scoreless innings.

Chen threw 76 pitches, 51 for strikes. Gausman threw 56 pitches, 43 for strikes.

The rules were bent like pretzels. Gausman was told to stay on the mound and record four outs in the second inning and six in the third. Chen also got extra outs, which blurred the innings totals.

I spent more time watching Gausman, whose infield committed three errors behind him. One of the hits was a bunt single leading off the third inning. He got a double play, called third strike, two fly balls to center field and a tapper to the mound before returning to the bench.

Gausman allowed a clean single with one out in the fourth, but induced two ground balls to end his day. He signed autographs, posed for photos and fist-bumped his father before heading back to the Ed Smith Stadium complex.

“More than anything, just working on fastball command,” Gausman said. “That’s what I wanted to come out here and do, and I felt like I did it today. Threw some real good sliders, but everything was working, really. I think first-pitch strikes were pretty good, so you take those positive things out of it. I felt pretty good overall.”

Gausman knew hitters at this level would present a unique set of challenges.

“They’re definitely in swing mode or take mode. That’s what I kind of realized,” he said. “You just try to focus on what you’re working on. Normally in a big league game, you can set up guys and you’re going to pitch to their weaknesses. Here, you just pitch to your strengths and just try to get your work in.”

Gausman, who’s allowed one run in six innings this spring – including three in a B game – expects to work five innings in his next start.

“Right now, it’s just about getting a starter’s work and working on that pitch count,” he said. “I threw 56 today and I think last time I threw 51. I threw one more inning this outing and I felt pretty good, felt like I commanded the ball pretty well. I don’t know how many outs I got, but I’ll take that on 56 pitches.

“I felt pretty good overall.”

So did Chen, who’s allowed two runs in 8 1/3 innings this spring.

“I felt good, but I’m still trying to get a feel for my breaking ball and the changeup. I think my changeup is getting better since my last outing, but I’m still trying to get a better feel for it,” Chen said through his interpreter.

“The A-ball hitters are very aggressive, so they often swing at my first or second pitch. Sometimes, I wanted to try out some of my pitches and I have to do it on my first or second pitch. Otherwise, they would just hit it and make contact. That’s kind of a challenge, but that’s what I’m trying to do out there.

“My body feels pretty good right now, but I’m trying to get back the feel of pitching in a real game on the mound, like what I did last year. It’s still spring training, so I’m trying to get it back, but physically I feel pretty good.”

The Orioles lead the Red Sox 11-5 in the top of the ninth inning at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers.

Left-hander Brian Matusz allowed two hits in four scoreless innings. He’s given up one run in 10 1/3 innings this spring and still hasn’t walked a batter, proving that the trade rumors aren’t a distraction.

Deal him while his value is rising or hold onto him?

In case you missed it earlier, the Orioles optioned pitcher Mike Wright to Triple-A Norfolk and more cuts are expected after today’s game in Fort Myers.

Wright allowed two runs and five hits in 6 2/3 innings, with one walk and eight strikeouts. He goes back into the Tides rotation, but he could move into a relief role in the majors.

Manager Buck Showalter told reporters that Matt Wieters won’t serve as the designated hitter on Sunday. The Orioles are being careful with Wieters, who could move back behind the plate on Wednesday.

Pitching coach Dave Wallace watches the action at Twin Lakes Park.

Wei-Yin Chen signs autographs after his outing.

Fans gather around Kevin Gausman after he pitched against Single-A hitters.