The Tampa Bay Rays hit three home runs, including a walk-off blast, to carry them to victory in the Grapefruit League opener over Atlanta on Sunday, 9-7.
The Rays put runners on the corners in the first inning after Randy Arozarena collected the team’s first hit of the Spring. Yet nothing came of the threat. Meanwhile, Atlanta put the first tally on the board against non-roster invitee Hunter Strickland.
Yet, Austin Meadows came up big in the second inning when he hit a line-drive homer to right-center, capping a four-run frame. This came after Willy Adames and Manuel Margot went back-to-back with doubles.
That’s encouraging, just the competitive mode of us being able to come out early, especially the first game, and put as many barrels on the ball as we did. It’s definitely encouraging, so it was good to see.
— Austin Meadows
The very next inning, Mike Brosseau welcomed southpaw Sean Newcomb into the game with a solo shot.
Farmhand Tristan Gray entered the game to play first and hit a two-run triple to right-center in the fifth for a 7-5 lead.
Gray also homered to break a tie in the seventh and final frame of the game. As Neil Solondz (Rays Radio) noted, “Gray hit 17 homers with Double-A Montgomery in 2019. Gray was in Spring Training with the Rays but was sidelined after breaking his hamate bone against the Twins.”
This was pretty crazy. I’m still feeling the butterflies and all from all this, but it’s been great. I was telling Ryan Boldt when we were sitting there: It may have been a long time, but whenever you get back into things, it feels so familiar. So it’s great, man. I am just excited to be here. And obviously having a day like today is a plus.
— Tristan Gray
On the mound, Tampa Bay had seven different pitchers throw an inning. Chris Ellis worked around a pair of leadoff walks in a scoreless first, while, Joey Krehbiel — the only other hurler to throw a scoreless inning of work — struck out the side in the sixth inning, which came after the starters had departed.
The New What Next
Tyler Glasnow will start for Tampa Bay at home on Monday against the Twins. Also expected to pitch are left-handers Dietrich Enns, Brian Moran, and Kenny Rosenberg, and right-handers Trevor Richards, Tyler Zombro, and Louis Head. Given that the Rays will play Boston eight times in the Spring, Kevin Cash will have to adjust the schedule so a starting pitcher doesn’t face them four times in those eight games.
Rays 3/1/21 Starting Lineup
- Meadows
- Tsutsugo
- Zunino
- Wendle
- Diaz
- Phillips
- Brosseau
- Walls
- J. Lowe
- Glasnow RHP
Noteworthiness
— After playing left field with Tampa Bay last season, Rays skipper Kevin Cash said Randy Arozarena will play all three outfield positions this Spring. Arozarena, who played in right on Sunday, will play in left when the Rays play at JetBlue Park at Fenway South, for example, so he can get used to playing in front of the Green Monster.
We’ll kind of take stadium factors in. If there’s some similarities to some of the ballparks we’re going into, let him see different balls off the bat in those parks. I know Fenway really sticks out.
— Kevin Cash
— Per Erik Neander, Chris Archer threw a live batting practice session on Sunday, and clocked in at 91-94 mph with his fastball. His slider reportedly looked sharp as well.