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By Karen Boehler
Pecos League writer
LAS VEGAS, N.M. — Trinidad and Santa Fe battled to a two-run decision in the second game of Tuesday’s spring training double header at HIghlands University, with the Triggers getting the victory.
Neither manager knew exactly what the score was — Fuego manager Bill Moore only knew it was a two run difference — but both saw a lot they liked.
“I didn’t come here to keep track of the score,” said Trinidad manager J.D. Droddy. “We didn’t have a scoreboard. We came here to look at players. I’m beyond thrilled. We did great. Our pitchers were good. Our hitters, I had two, three guys I didn’t know could hit like that. And they hit well.”
That hitting included home runs by Will Leonard and Jacob Fabry, while Santa Fe’s Erik Scott matched that feat.
“I expect, all said and done, that we’ll score our share of runs, and we’ll be a very aggressive, active team,” Moore said, noting home runs are good, but not expected. “We’re not going to lay back and wait for somebody to hit a home run. We’ll do some stuff.”
Overall, he also was pleased with what he saw.
“I found out some things today that I needed to find out,” Moore said. “I think mostly we were where I thought we would be. I learned some things about my players and I think we’re where we wanted to be. Obviously, we would have liked to win. I’m disappointed we didn’t, but on the other hand, content.”
“I didn’t try to build this team as a home run team,” Droddy agreed.“I’m looking to get on base and be able to run bases. But if they happen to hit it out, that’s OK. That works.”
The big scoring difference came when the Santa Fe pitchers faltered partway through, raising the specter of last year’s FUego.
“We didn’t pitch very well in the middle of the ball game,” Moore said. “We gave up most of the runs that they scored on ball four, ball four. I think we walked four guys and I think four guys scored on walks.
“We’re not going to do that this year.”
That said, Moore noted that three of his best pitchers didn’t even take the field Tuesday.
“Of the eight guys (who threw), really only one is expected to be a starter,” he said. “The others are competing for bullpen spots and I learned things from watching them pitch today.”
Both teams had several days of practice behind them before coming into the scrimmage — Trinidad in what Droddy called “sub-freezing weather” — and both will get back to practice until opening day May 15.
“We’ve got a lot of time,” Moore said.
“I’m very pleased,” Droddy said. “From what I’ve seen here today and everything, I think it’s going to be a really tight three-way race for the two playoff spots. I think Las Vegas, Santa Fe and I think we are going to be very strong. Raton maybe not so much, but we’re going to have three really strong teams and only two of us can get into the playoffs. So it’s going to be fun.”
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