If anything should be said following the Grapefruit League season opener, it’s that the box score after nine hard innings is, ultimately, irrelevant — at least you hope so if you’re Erik Bedard. The Rays dropped their first game of the spring to their AL East foes by a score of 4-2. The veteran LHP didn’t fare well in one inning of work Friday, relinquishing three runs on three hits — including a two-out, two RBI base hit off the bat of Al Gonzalez. All is not lost however, the Rays ‘pen blanked the O’s from the third inning on, while Yunel Escobar put together a solid day at the plate. A few bulleted highlights and low-lights are below.
Highlights
- Yunel Escobar went 2-for-2 with a double.
- Justin Christian also made a dent in things, going 1-for-2 with an RBI
- Cesar Ramos, Brandon Gomes, Josh Leuke, Jake Odorizzi, Nate Karns, Kirby Yates, and CJ Riefenhauser teamed up to ring up six Orioles, while walking only one. Though the aforementioned seven gave up five hits in seven innings, they didn’t allow more than two base runners in any given inning.
Low-lights
- Erik Bedard’s final line: 1 IP/3 H/3 R/3 ER/2 BB/1 K, ’nuff said.
- Heath Bell’s final line: 1 IP/1 H/1 R/1 ER/1 BB/1 WP/1 K
The New What Next
David Price will make his first appearance of the spring in Saturday’s contest against the Pirates in Bradenton. Also slated to see action are RHP’s Mark Lowe, Brad Boxberger, Matt Andriese and Alex Colome, along with LHP’s Jake McGee, Mike Montgomery, Enny Romero, and Jeff Beliveau.
Rays 3/1/14 Starting Lineup
Rod 2B
Joyce RF
Forsythe 3B
Myers DH
Hanigan C
Belnome 1B
Nix SS
Guyer LF
Kiermaier CF
Price LHP
…Because It Bears Mentioning Again
Don’t forget, March 1st is your first opportunity to pick up your very own X-Rays Spex “Raymones” shirt! Did you pre-order a shirt, and need to pick it up? Perhaps you missed the pre-order window altogether, and now want to snag one of these hot tamales. Join us Saturday at Star Booty, from 3:00-6:00 PM. We’ll have some assorted Smuttynose beers available for a small donation, thanks to Micro Man Distributers. Need more information to wet your whistle? Check out our Facebook event page. Spread the word!
I’d also like to announce the re-opening of the X-Rays Spex merch store. You may be saying to yourself (audibly like a creep, or otherwise), “I’m not able to make it to the soiree tomorrow, but I’d really like to order a shirt.” Well buckaroo, you can order them from the comfort of your couch, chair, stool, toilet, counter-top, etc, once again! We have a limited number of shirts in various sizes — small, medium, large and extra-large — available for $10.00 each. Please add $1.00 to the cost of each shirt if you wish to have it/them shipped to you.