TUCSON, Ariz.—Ian Kennedy has shown promise in the minor leagues. The Diamondbacks are hoping he can finally bring that success to the big league level.
Kennedy got off to a positive start Sunday, throwing two scoreless innings in a 9-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies. The game between split squads was called because of rain after 5 1/2 innings.
Kennedy said he threw all his pitches, including two curveballs, but focused on his fastball command. He allowed two hits and walked one. The 25-year-old right-hander is expected to be Arizona’s No. 4 starter.
“Ian did well,” Diamondbacks manager A.J. Hinch said. “He’s a little bit of a perfectionist I’ve learned, in that he wants to use all his pitches and he knows he has two innings to do it. He mixed in a lot of different pitches.”
Last season, Kennedy’s season was cut short by an aneurysm under his right armpit. He pitched one major league inning and 22 2-3 innings in the minors. He has a 19-6 record and 1.95 ERA in the minors compared to a 1-4 record and 6.03 ERA in 59 2-3 big league innings.
“Here, they’ve said from the get-go, I still have to prove myself, but the doors are open for me,” Kennedy said.
Arizona closer Chad Qualls threw a 1-2-3 inning in his first appearance since dislocating his knee in August. Conor Jackson, who missed most of last season because of valley fever, hit his first spring home run, a solo shot to left field in the fourth inning.
For the Rockies, left-hander Franklin Morales struggled, allowing eight runs in 1 2-3 innings. Morales, who is expected to be in the Colorado bullpen, gave up three-run homers to Stephen Drew and Rusty Ryal. he balked and walked two.
Ian Stewart drew two walks and scored a run.
