SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Chad Bettis was bound to be excited Tuesday at Salt River Fields, pitching in his first Cactus League game.
Back-to-back strikeouts to open the game, including a punchout of Angels star Mike Trout, had Bettis even more amped.
“Oh, yeah, it’s exciting. It was my first game. I’m always trying to strike guys out,” Bettis said.
Bettis, returning to a starting role after a fumbled switch to the bullpen last year, is still stretching out for longer-inning hauls as a starter. His two innings of work Tuesday were a good start. Bettis allowed just one hit. He struck out Kole Calhoun and Trout to open the game. After allowing a double to David Freese Bettis forced Erick Aybar into a weak grounder.
WATCH:
“I saw him commanding the fastball to the glove side of the plate,” Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. “For the most part, he kept his delivery intact and under control. He wasn’t rushing away from the rubber like we’ve seen him at times in the past.”
Bettis continues to tweak his mechanics and delivery in order to square up his body at the batter, he said. But he’s gaining comfort.
“I feel more freed up. It’s a lot easier for me to get to the outside corner with all my pitches,” said Bettis, who will probably begin the season at Triple-A Albuquerque.
“If they put the bat on the ball early, that’s what we’re working on — trying to get ahead and staying ahead,” he said. “If the strikeouts come, then they come.”
One-two punch. Left-handers Boone Logan and Rex Brothers pitched back-to-back innings against the Angels, allowing just one hit (by Logan). Weiss said he envisions mixing and matching the two of them in late-inning roles again this season.
“We did that at times last year. They flip-flopped roles. I don’t have to pin them to a certain inning,” Weiss said.
