Jake Odorizzi took the hill in Wednesday’s Grapefruit League season opener, and while the Tampa Bay Rays took a brief 2-1 lead, they ultimately fell to the Washington Nationals by a score of 6-2.
Odorizzi put together an easy eight pitch (six strikes), 1-2-3 inning of work. The righty struck out Trea Turner on three pitches, got Wilmer Difo to pop to shortstop and Matt den Dekker to ground to second base. Using his curve ball three times, a pitch he didn’t use frequently last year, Odorizzi felt the outing went as well as it could have for a first appearance.
Manager Kevin Cash was reportedly impressed with Odorizzi and Enny Romero, who threw two innings and gave up an unearned run. The left-handed pitcher that has been called the heir apparent to Jake McGee fanned two and allowed just one hit. Errors by second baseman Nick Franklin (fielding) and catcher Curt Casali (throwing) led to the run against Romero.
Knuckleballer Eddie Gamboa struck out two of his three batters in relief of Romero.
Desmond Jennings put the Rays ahead by a run after he lined a two-run double, off Joe Ross, that caromed off the left-center field wall in the third inning.
However, Washington plated three runs against prospect Blake Snell in the sixth inning, all on Scott Sizemore’s two-out homer off the batter’s eye in center field.
In spite of the results, Snell was not discouraged by his first MLB outing of any type. Snell said he was working on his fastball and change-up, and 22 of 24 pitches were either of those two offerings:
It’s spring training. None of it counts or really matters. It’s all about getting better and learning, Snell said. I’m working on my changeup, so I have to throw it. … If I don’t work on it, when I go into the season how am I going to get better? I’m not going to trust it and I’m not going to throw it. There’s a lot I can learn from (today).
Washington plated two more runs against Taylor Guerrieri in the seventh, one of which was set up by a fly-ball that was lost in the sun.
The New What Next
The Rays will remain at home to face the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday. Right-hander Erasmo Ramirez will get the start opposite of Baltimore righty Miguel Gonzalez. Dana Eveland, Matt Andriese, Danny Farquhar, Steve Geltz, and Jamie Schultz are also slated to take the mound for Tampa Bay.
Rays 3/2/16 Starting Lineup
Miller SS
Jennings LF
Dickerson DH
Forsythe 2B
Pearce 1B
Guyer CF
Motter 3B
Rivera C
Decker RF
Ramirez RHP
Noteworthiness
― Brad Miller, Steve Pearce and Corey Dickerson are scheduled to make their debuts Thursday against the visiting Orioles. Jennings is also scheduled to play left field again.
― The Rays Rays renewed the contracts of three of their bigger-name players ― RHP Brad Boxberger, OF Kevin Kiermaier and Odorizzi ― who are not yet eligible for arbitration.
Per Marc Topkin, the other 23 players on the 40-man roster in that category of 0-3 years of service time agreed to terms. Though the difference in salary is usually small, since the Rays typically pay all players usually just slightly above the league minimum of $507,500, the decision to not agree to a deal is sometimes made as a matter of principle, leading the team to renew them.
― OF Steven Souza remains sidelined with an intercostal strain in his left side and isn’t expected to play in games until at least next week. He’s resumed baseball activities, however, but the Rays aren’t planning to rush him back onto the field as it’s still early in camp.