Ward Pitches In Big League Spring Training Wednesday Night
March 29, 2007 | Baseball
FT. MYERS, Fla. - Gardner-Webb product Zach Ward pitched with
the Minnesota Twins' big league club on Wednesday night, working an
inning in relief against the Boston Red Sox.
Ward, a third-round pick by the Cincinnati Reds in 2005, was traded
to the Twins for major league pitcher Kyle Lohse last summer.
The Kannapolis, N.C., native worked the eighth inning, allowing one
single and one unearned run after a fielding error allowed Joe
McEwing on board to lead off the eighth. Ward recovered to get out
of the inning with a groundball and two fly outs.
Boston, which led 5-2 going into the ninth, held on for a 5-4 win.
Johan Santana started on the mound for the Twins, and Curt
Schilling made the mound start for Boston.
Minnesota has one more Spring Training game before breaking
camp.
Ward is not listed on the Twins' 40-man major league roster, and
was expected to begin the 2007 season with the Ft. Myers Miracle of
the High A Florida State League or with the New Britain (Conn.)
Rock Cats of the Double A Eastern League.
Ward, who starred at Gardner-Webb from 2003-2005, finished his
career as the program's leader in strikeouts (284) and strikeouts
per nine innings. Ward also set the Bulldogs single-season record
with 127 Ks in 2005, and won 17 career games with GWU.
