No velocity no problem for Garza

By ROGER MOONEY
rmooney@bradenton.com
DUNEDIN — Matt Garza’s velocity never made it to Dunedin, but the Rays third starter managed to last 4 2/3 innings against the Jays and turned a 4-2 lead over to Jeff Niemann.

“Part of the process,” Garza said. “Trying to get outs, my arm didn’t feel too great. I’m facing that dead-arm period. It feels like you have nothing in the tank. The main focus was to stay behind everything but still effect and make sure I don’t try to dig too deep for something, and just pitch, try to make my way through without having my best stuff.”

Garza allowed six hits and four runs, though those last two runs came on Millar’s double off the left field fence off Niemann.

“It wasn’t there,” Garza said. “I just made my pitches and tried to spot up. I got a lot of work done on my change-up, and I’m pretty happy with that, and I put away some hitters with my slider, so I felt pretty good.”

Garza started off well in the fifth, retiring the first two batters he faced on a strikeout and a ground out. But Russ Adams hit an opposite-field triple and Jose Bautista singled to center field.

Pitching coach Jim Hickey made a trip to the mound and asked Garza, who was nearing his pitch count of 75, if he could get Alex Rios out in five pitches.

Garza said yes. But on his fourth pitch, Rios grounded the ball up the middle.
That was all for Garza, who was replaced by Niemann.

Niemann let the game get out of hand as the Blue Jays won easily, 15-4.

Normally, Garza can dominate with his fastball. Friday gave him a chance to work on things for those days during the regular season when his velocity isn’t there.

“You just make pitches,” he said. “That’s where location comes in more important than velocity. I knew I didn’t have a lot of velocity, so it was more important to get to my location. I thought I did a good job of that. I don’t think I gave up very many hard hits, a lot of jam jobs and stuff off the end, which is fine with me. I’ll take that any day.”

Upton back in action
Center fielder B.J. Upton takes another step in his comeback from offseason shoulder surgery today when he will play the outfield and hit in a minor league game at the Charlotte Sports Park.

Upton said Thursday after batting three times in a Triple A game that he could return to the Rays lineup sometime next week. Maddon things that might be possible.

“I’ll talk to (athletic trainer Ron Porterfield) about that,” Maddon said. “We could probably lengthening him out a bit and get him into a game with us. I’m not sure of the date, yet, but it probably can happen in the middle of next week.”

Another record crowd
The Rays, who are drawing well on the road, especially in the Tampa Bay area, drew another record crowd to Dunedin Stadium on Friday.

A total of 5.742 fans filled the park, making it the largest crowd since the stadium was refurbished in 2002.

Friday’s crowd broke the post-2002 attendance record of 5,691, set last week when the Rays made their first trip to Dunedin this spring.

NOTEWORTHY
Carl Crawford hit his first home run of the season, a two-run shot to right field off Jays starter Brad Mills. Crawford singled off the left-handed Mills in his next at-bat ... Ray Sadler joined Evan Longoria and Jon Weber for the team lead in doubles when he hit his fourth two-bagger of the spring ... Chris Mason, who was in camp with the Rays last season, made his first appearance with the major league club Friday and allowed a home run in his one inning.