Eickhoff strikes out seven, receives no-decision in spring debut as Phillies fall to Twins

By: Matt Rappa, managing editor

Final: Twins 7, Phillies 5 ❖ Attendance: 8,028

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Facing right-hander Phil Hughes and the split-squad Minnesota Twins (11-9-1), right-hander Jerad Eickhoff received a no-decision despite striking out seven batters in his spring debut as the Philadelphia Phillies (14-6-2) fell 7-5 Tuesday afternoon at Bright House Field.

Eickhoff missed time this spring with a small fracture in his right thumb and a foot blister. The right-hander was slated to make his spring debut on Thursday, but he instead appeared in a minor-league game two days later in case the Phillies needed to backdate a potential stint on the disabled list.

A four-run rally in the seventh secured the Twins their second of two victories on the day—the first being a 5-1 home win in Fort Myers over right-hander Mike Wright and the Baltimore Orioles (5-13-4).

The Phillies have eight more spring training games remaining in Florida—four home and four away—before they head north to Reading, Pennsylvania, to partake in the first of two Futures games on Thursday, March 31.

WP: Dan Runzler (1-0, 2.25 ERA) ❖ LP: Andrew Bailey (2-1, 5.40 ERA) ❖ SV: J.R. Graham (1)

Hub: Game Summary ❖ Starting Pitchers ❖ At the Plate ❖ Bullpen ❖ What's Next

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Game Summary

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
MIN	1	1	0	1	0	0	4	0	0	7	11	0
PHI	0	2	0	1	0	1	0	1	0	5	11	2

Following a one-out single and walk by shortstop Danny Santana and right fielder Miguel Sano respectively against Eickhoff, first baseman Byung-ho Park doubled for the second time of the spring to bring home the game's first run.

The Twins have invested $24.85 million in Park, who signed a four-year, $12 million deal—with a $6.5 million club option for 2020—with the Twins on Dec. 1. On Nov. 6, 25 days earlier, the Korean Baseball Organization's Nexen Heroes accepted the Twins' posting bid of $12.85 million for the right to negotiate a contract with the 29-year-old.

Eickhoff's struggles lingered into the second inning, as he allowed a leadoff home run to designated hitter Daniel Palka—his first of the spring. Palka, who was drafted by the Phillies in the 19th round of the 2010 amateur draft but did not sign, was dealt from the Arizona Diamondbacks to the Twins this offseason in exchange for catcher Chris Herrmann.

The Phillies' right-hander struck out each of the next three batters to end the frame, raising his game total to five through the first two innings.

In the latter-half of the second, the Phillies would even the contest at two. With two runners on and one out, center fielder Darnell Sweeney singled to left field to score shortstop Andres Blanco, who was hit by Hughes. Eickhoff, the next batter, brought home the game-tying run by grounding into a force out.

Palka went yard against Eickhoff for the second time of the game in the top of the fourth inning, which gave Minnesota a 3-2 advantage. Eickhoff went four innings this afternoon in his spring debut, striking out seven batters. The Evansville, Indiana, native allowed three runs, all of which were earned, on four hits and two walks.

Pinch-hitting for Eickhoff with two outs in the bottom of the fourth, Freddy Galvis doubled down the left field line, his third of the spring. The next batter, non-roster invitee left fielder David Lough, singled to center field to tie the game at three. Second baseman Cesar Hernandez then singled to right field to put runners on the corners, but third baseman Maikel Franco struck out swinging to end the further scoring threat.

Two innings later, the Phillies grabbed a 4-3 lead. Right-fielder Emmanuel Burriss began the bottom of the sixth with a triple, his first of the spring. Two batters later, following southpaw Dan Runzler entering in relief for Hughes, third baseman Angelys Nina completed a success suicide squeeze bunt attempt to score Burriss from third. Nina committed two errors (fielding, throwing) on back-to-back plays the half-inning prior. Phillies' reliever James Russell, retired the next three batters, two via strikeouts.

Facing Russell for one at-bat, followed by non-roster invitee right-hander Andrew Bailey in the seventh, the Twins scored four runs on five hits.

Pinch-hitting for rotation hopeful Brett Oberholtzer in the bottom of the eighth, with two runners on and two outs, Darin Ruf laced his fifth double of the spring to decrease the Phillies' deficit to two runs, 7-5. Hernandez represented the go-ahead run, but grounded out to second base to end the inning.

The Phillies went down 1-2-3 in the ninth, as J.R. Graham picked up his first save.

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