Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays defeat Boston 13-5, fall to Toronto 6-1

The Tampa Bay Rays split a pair of split-squad games Sunday afternoon, handily defeating the Boston Red Sox 13-5 in Port Charlotte, yet falling 6-1 to the Toronto Blue Jays in Dunedin.

Erasmo Ramirez got the start against Boston and put together a solid start. After a 1-2-3 first inning, Erasmo looked to be in trouble after he gave up three consecutive singles ― two on the ground ― to begin the second. Yet, unlike last Tuesday when he allowed four runs, he got out of the bases loaded jam by collecting a pair of strikeouts followed by a ground-out.

In that moment, I was a little worried, Ramirez said. You try not to throw harder ― just execute. Things I can control is (just) throw the heaters and show I’m still in control on the mound. …I just went out there and execute and let my players play defense.

Ramirez also said he located his pitches better and was more effective at mixing his pitches. The righty ended the day with a 4 IP/5 H/1 ER/1 BB/3 K line on 61 pitches (44 strikes).

Rays Manager Kevin Cash liked how Ramirez responded to the adversity, saying,

(Ramirez) looks good. He got into some jams, and they kind of singled him to death there. Sometimes you want that to happen to see how a guy responds in a spring training setting. He got out of it both times.

Danny Farquhar and Enny Romero each worked a pair of innings, and Andrew Bellatti closed out the game the ninth.

The Rays took a commanding six-run lead in the bottom of the second inning. Right-fielder Steven Souza Jr. started the rally with a single to center, the first of seven straight hits for Tampa Bay. Souza went first to third on a single off the bat of Tim Beckham single, then came home when Rick Porcello uncorked a wild pitch. Hank Conger, Jaff Decker and Kevin Kiermaier followed with a triplet of RBI doubles, and Evan Longoria tacked on a two-run single.

Conger and Patrick Leonard also homered in the 13-run contest, and both ended the day with three RBI.

Conger turned on a middle-middle fastball and drove it to the boardwalk in right-center field.

As for Leonard, he turned on a breaking pitch in the sixth inning and deposited it at the top of the scoreboard in left-field.

All told, the team collected 16 hits. As Neil Solondz noted, the 13 runs scored by the Tampa Bay against Boston were their most in any Spring Training game since March 9, 2013 against the Phillies (won 15-7). It was also the second-highest run total at Charlotte Sports Park since moving into the facility in 2009 — on March 7, 2009 vs. Boston, they recorded a 15-7 win.

Taylor Guerrieri worked two scoreless innings to start the contest in Dunedin, yet allowed four runs in the third — three on a Jose Bautista homer.

Guerrieri on scoreless 2 IP—before Bautista HR: Chance to see what you’re made of—then I made him look pretty good. pic.twitter.com/2H9HK0O2cz

— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) March 13, 2016

Jake Faria followed with 2-1/3 scoreless innings, and Jaime Schultz collected 1-2/3 scoreless innings. However, in the eighth inning, Justin Marks was charged with two runs to cap the Rays’ 6-1 loss.

The New What Next

Chris Archer will make his third start of the Spring when the Rays travel to Orlando on Monday to face the Atlanta Braves. The projected Opening Day starter will toe the rubber opposite of Julio Teheran.

Rays 3/14/16 Starting Lineup

Miller SS
Souza DH
Loney 1B
Beckham 3B
Conger C
Franklin 2B
Decker LF
Leonard RF
Brett CF
Archer RHP

Noteworthiness

— Corey Dickerson told the media his left forearm is sore after getting hit by a pitch Saturday. In spite of that, Dickerson was at designated hitter Sunday against the Red Sox.

— Logan Forsythe had two of the Rays’ 16 hits in Port Charlotte, giving him a team-high 10 for the Spring.

— The Rays entered Sunday’s games with 35 doubles — tops in Major League Baseball. Between the two split-squad games, they tallied nine more.

— Steve Pearce said his right calf was felt better Sunday and took BP in the cage.

— Matt Andriese (left abdominal tightness), who was scratched from his start against Toronto, will play catch on Monday.

— The Rays skipper said an “unofficial” roster for their trip to Cuba on March 21 and 22 will be released Monday,

It won’t be finalized, but we will have a list of guys who are going. Those who aren’t going will work on that off day (March 21) in camp.

— In a post on their official Facebook page, the Tampa Bay Rays announced what we all expected, Chris Archer will get the start Opening Day against the Toronto Blue Jays: