While right now the biggest priority for Ranger Suarez is building up his workload, his final spring outing didn’t go particularly well.
Suarez allowed nine runs (eight earned) on nine hits, a walk and two home runs over 4 1/3 innings in Tuesday’s 15-6 loss to the Minnesota Twins. He struck out four batters and threw 45 of his 69 pitches for strikes, but while he didn’t give up a ton of hard contact, he did allow a pair of two-run home runs to Brooks Lee and Byron Buxton.
The bulk of the damage came in the bottom of the fifth, when the Twins rallied for five runs. With the Red Sox leading 5-4 entering the inning, Suarez allowed a leadoff single and a go-ahead two-run shot to Buxton. He then gave up two more singles and struck out Matt Wallner to wrap up his outing, but his inherited runners came around to score against minor league reliever Cade Feeney.
The Twins ultimately teed off for six home runs against the Red Sox pitching staff. James Outman homered twice, once against left-hander Jovani Moran and the second time against veteran righty Tommy Kahnle, and Victor Caratini and Kody Clemens each homered as well.
Story finishes strong
Trevor Story wrapped up his spring on a high note, going 1 for 3 with a two-run double in the club’s Grapefruit League finale. Masataka Yoshida went 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI single, Marcelo Mayer went 2 for 3 with a run scored and Roman Anthony went 1 for 3 with an RBI.
That’s a wrap
The Red Sox wrapped up their Grapefruit League schedule 13-16, and following Tuesday’s game the club broke camp and flew to Cincinnati to prepare for Thursday’s season opener. Garrett Crochet will face Reds left-hander Andrew Abbott on Opening Day, with first pitch scheduled for 4:10 p.m.