It was good advice from his father, 1990 National League Cy Young Award winner Doug Drabek. The result: two scoreless innings, one walk and one hit allowed in the Phillies' 4-2 victory.
"I told him I was pitching against them," Drabek said, "and he told me, 'It's just another team. Don't get too excited. Just go out there and pitch. Don't try and overdo anything."'
Was it just another team?
"Definitely not," the 22-year-old right-hander said with a laugh. "Seeing all those hitters up there, I had a lot of fun today. I could see smiles on some of the guys in the Phillies' bullpen, so it was good."
Conflicting lineups on a clubhouse bulletin board had him pitching the first and second innings, or the third and fourth. "Going out there first, it was a lot of fun, especially going against the Phillies," he said. "I was glad I was able to keep the ball down and get a few ground balls."
Drabek likely will start the season at Double-A New Hampshire, but could jump quickly to Triple-A Las Vegas.
"He's not that far away from being on this club," manager Cito Gaston said. "You never start and end the season with the same pitchers. He just needs to go out and pitch well and continue to improve. Who knows? He might get to the big leagues by the end of the season."
Once Drabek's two-inning stint was over, Greg Dobbs and John Mayberry Jr. jumped on Kevin Gregg in the fourth inning and Lance Broadway in the sixth, opening each with back-to-back doubles that led to three of the Phillies' runs. Cody Ransom added a solo homer in the ninth.
Phillies starter Cole Hamels pitched three perfect innings, then Jose Bautista homered on his first pitch in the fourth, the only hit he allowed. He walked two and struck out three.
Drabek said starting against Hamels was "neat."
"When I was with them I got a chance to talk to him some. Cole's a great guy and it was definitely fun to pitch against him. ... This one kind of meant more, I guess, because it was against the team that traded me."
NOTES: The Blue Jays optioned RHP Robert Ray and LHP Luis Perez to Triple-A Las Vegas and reassigned OF Adam Loewen and C Brian Jeroloman to their minor league camp. ... Ransom's three-run homer off LHP Brett Cecil gave the Phillies a 4-1 B game victory at Clearwater. ... Former Phillies and Blue Jays manager Jim Fregosi, now a special assistant for Atlanta, was at the game. ... RHP Shaun Marcum is scheduled to start Thursday against Tampa Bay in Port Charlotte. Andy Sonnanstine starts for the Rays.
