Josh Fleming, Shane McClanahan, Nick Anderson, and Hunter Strickland combined to record 15 outs (five strikeouts, seven ground balls, and three infield fly balls) as the Tampa Bay Rays routed the Boston Red Sox, 11-3.
Fleming and McClanahan continued to pitch well.
Fleming breezed through two innings, allowing just one hit while striking out Red Sox prospect Bobby Dalbec while not allowing Boston to hit a ball out of the infield. He threw 18 of 22 pitches for strikes (82% strike rate).
McClanahan followed, striking out the side — all swinging — in the third.
Both those guys are going to help us in multiple ways, I would imagine, throughout this season.
— Kevin Cash
Anderson faced three batters in the fourth and quickly coaxed three grounders in his Spring Training debut. After his outing, Anderson joked about his 1-2-3 frame, and more specifically, his trio of ground outs, saying, “Ground-ball pitcher now. Watch out!” Otherwise, he said he felt good following his first outing.
It was good to get out there and take the training wheels off a bit. I had a little bit of butterflies, which I think is a good thing.
— Nick Anderson
Strickland was the last of three hurlers to sit the Red Sox down in order, striking out one while also forcing a grounder and a can of corn.
Meanwhile, a core of seven players — Brett Phillips, Austin Meadows, Yandy Diaz, Ji-Man Choi, Willy Adames, Kevin Kiermaier, and Josh Lowe — came up big for Tampa Bay, going a combined 7-15 with a pair of walks, five RBI, and five of the Rays 11 runs.
Rays skipper Kevin Cash praised Josh Lowe, who had two hits off the bench, and took over for Kevin Kiermaier in center. Cash told Adam Berry (MLB.com) he believes that facing high-quality pitching at the Rays’ alternate training site last summer has benefitted Lowe.
He’s got the look. It’s a big guy. Strong, fast. … He’s looked really good in all facets this spring.
— Kevin Cash
The New What Next
Luis Patiño will get the start on Wednesday when he takes the mound against the Twins in Port Charlotte. Also slated to throw are right-handers Joe Ryan and Drew Strotman, and left-handers Dietrich Enns and Jeffrey Springs.
Rays 3/10/21 Starting Lineup
- Kiermaier CF
- Zunino DH
- Meadows LF
- Lowe 3B
- Margot RF
- Tsutsugo 1B
- Mejía C
- Brosseau SS
- Bruján 2B
- Patiño RHP