SARASOTA, FLA. — Rule 5 pick Jason Garcia doesn't have much time to impress the Orioles this spring training, and he's facing an uphill climb to crack a crowded bullpen. But despite not having the cleanest inning in the Orioles' 3-1 win over the New York Yankees on Tuesday, manager Buck Showalter came away impressed.
Garcia entered in the top of the sixth inning with the Orioles having just taken a 2-0 lead. After retiring the first batter he faced, he allowed a double to right to Chase Headley. Garcia then issued a walk to Mark Teixeira to put two on with one out.
He struck out John Ryan Murphy looking but then allowed a single from Jose Pirela to load the bases.
Garcia was able to get out of the inning, inducing a pop-up from Stephen Drew to strand the bases loaded.
"Coming into the game, I turned to [Double-A pitching coach] Alan [Mills] and I told him, 'This is going to be a pretty good look here because it's the first time you have a bunch of bells and whistles and the crowd and he's facing the better part of the lineup and he's playing a team that some people think is noteworthy," Showalter said. "He presented himself well.
"[Garcia] was a little upset afterward. I actually think he's going through a little, not dead arm, but not quite the life he's going to have later. So it was good seeing him get through it."
Garcia, who has displayed a mid-90s fastball in spring competition, had pitched three scoreless innings, walking three and striking out two.
As a Rule 5 pick – the Huston Astros selected Garcia from the Boston Red Sox and then traded him to the Orioles – Garcia must remain on the major league roster all season or be offered back to Boston.
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