TAMPA, Fla. -- Right-hander Jake Odorizzi wasn't able to keep his pitch count down enough to get through three innings on Tuesday, but he found comfort in some of his secondary pitches during his second spring start.
Odorizzi gave up a run and five hits in two innings of the Rays' 7-6, 10-inning loss to the Yankees. He struck out four and threw 48 pitches, 32 for strikes.
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"I felt good, I was around the zone with everything," Odorizzi said. "Sometimes it leads to hits and sometimes it leads to early outs. I can't worry too much about the hits in Spring Training."
Odorizzi said the game plan was to work on his secondary pitches and start to find a comfortable release point for his slider and changeup.
"I was really working on my offspeed stuff today, so that's why my pitch count went up there," Odorizzi said. "I was throwing some offspeed pitches in counts I normally wouldn't. But we face these guys so much I might as well work on it now."
Odorizzi finished his outing with by striking out Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez with a changeup. All four of his strikeouts came on swings-and-misses.
"It's nice to get that changeup going," Odorizzi said. "That was real encouraging. My slider has been inconsistent but I worked on it today and got some misses."
Odorizzi said his next scheduled outing is March 14, but that could be with the Rays or it could be part of Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. He was added to the reserve roster over the weekend and said that it would be an honor to pitch in the event.
"Things have to line up for me to go participate, and if it works out that would be great," Odorizzi said. "If it doesn't happen it's still a great feeling to be named to the team."
Chris Archer will be pitching for Team USA in the opener Friday against Team Colombia. Odorizzi said even if he doesn't join his teammate, he'll be watching.
"I'm excited to watch Arch pitch in that atmosphere and open up the WBC for Team USA," Odorizzi said. "He's going to be the Opening Day starter for them and likely going to be the Opening Day starter for us, so it's good lead in."