Tampa Bay beat Philly for second day straight Saturday, this time by a score of 15-7. The Rays hitters seem to be coming into their own at the plate, scoring 15 runs on 16 hits, while stranding only seven on the base paths. You can see the box score, pitching and batting lines, and a brief bulleted summary below.
- Niemann put up some pretty good numbers Saturday, giving up only one run on four hits, while walking none and striking out three.
- Jeremey Hellickson on the other hand was not sharp in the least. Helly gave up three runs (all earned) on five hits and a walk in two innings of work, while struggling through a 34-pitch sixth inning.
- The Rays got 16 hits on the day, including two from Shelley Duncan (including a homer) and Robinson Chirinos. Sean Rodriguez also went yard with a huge 2-run blast to left center in the third inning.
- Leslie Anderson improved his batting average to .414 on the spring following another good day the plate. Anderson went 1-3 with two RBI, crossing the plate twice.
- The Rays are now 11-4 in Grapefruit League play, one more win than they had all of last spring.
- Nothing official from Rays on Desmond Jennings but word in clubhouse is that he rolled an ankle rounding first, and it wasn’t bad.
- Mad props to the Hooters ball girl, who handed Shelley Duncan a ground rule double down the left field line. She didn’t realize the ball off Duncan’s bat was still in play. She fielded it and handed the ball to a fan.
- Rays closer Fernando Rodney came in and ended the Dominican Republic/Spain WBC game on a strike out. Dominican Republic beat Spain by a score of 6-3.
The Rays are home in Port Charlotte on Sunday where they’ll take on Boston. Matt Moore is scheduled to get the start.