PHOENIX (AP) -Dallas Braden’s knowledge of South Africa’s baseball team was limited to the hitting coach: Brian McArn.
“It looks like he’s done a good job instituting the same things he learned while playing and coaching,” Braden said Thursday after combining with four relievers for a three-hitter in the Oakland Athletics’ 6-1 split-squad exhibition win.
“Pre-pitch you could see their readiness in the box. They’re into the game,” Braden said. “There’s nothing but room for improvement.”
Braden, who threw three scoreless innings, knows McArn from their Triple-A Sacramento River Cats days.
le time out.”
Ryan Webb, Brett Hunter, Arnold Leon, and Tyson Ross followed Braden to the mound before a crowd announced at just 1,209.
Alessio Angelucci, a prospect in the San Diego Padres’ organization, pitched two scoreless innings for South Africa. He allowed one hit and walked four.
“This is a huge intangible learning experience,” South Africa manager Rick Magnante said. “It’s a baseball experience and a life experience. To see the game at this level is something they can take back in terms of learning and growing.”
Magnante, who also managed the team during the 2006 WBC, is a longtime A’s scout who signed Bobby Crosby and Barry Zito.
Manager of Vancouver for the past three years, Magnante also was Sean Doolittle’s first professional manager.
“There’s nothing even approaching a facility like this in South Africa,” Magnante said. “And there’s nothing coming close to the competition they’ll play in a world venue. Baseball is at the bottom of sports like rugby, cricket and soccer. We’re taking the attitude that we are teaching and preparing.”
While Magnante never visited the Crosby household, the scout-player relationship remains strong.
e guy and has been supportive of me. I still see him and we always make sure to talk.”
Jack Cust, Yung-Chi Chen, Josh Donaldson and Doolittle also had RBIs for the A’s, while Anthony Phillips drove in South Africa’s run.
Notes: South Africa travels to Mexico City on Friday. After working out Saturday, the team opens the WBC against Cuba on Sunday. … RHP Gavin Jeffries, the oldest player on South Africa’s team at 32, pitched two scoreless innings and was replaced by LHP Hein Robb, the youngest (16) member of the team. … A’s 1B Daric Barton developed tightness in his quadriceps and will miss the next few days. … A’s recent signee SS Orlando Cabrera briefly visited the clubhouse before taking a physical. … RHP Justin Duchscherer visited Dr. Lewis Yokom for a second opinion on his sore right elbow.
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