The Tampa Bay Rays walked away from Sarasota Thursday night, (following a 4-3 win over Baltimore) with their third Grapefruit League title in seven years. To many, that may not be significant. To the astute follower of the Rays, however, Tampa Bay went on to win the AL East the previous two years — 2008 and 2010.
In his final start of the spring, Alex Cobb put together a good outing, posting a 4 IP/3 H/1 ER/1 BB/2 K line. The Maddux-like RHP impressively kept the ball on the ground, tallying nine groundouts. This isn’t to say it was all smooth sailing for Cobb; two of the three hits relinquished, and his sole run, came in the first inning, while Cobb was responsible for the fourth inning exit of Nelson Cruz, after he hit the Orioles outfielder with an errant, helmet-cracking, curveball.
“I don’t think any pitcher wants to hit a guy in the head,” said Cobb, “It was a curveball, you know. If anything, any pitch you could hit him with, you’d prefer it to be that. It still stinks to see a guy go down like that. I’ve heard he’s OK, so that’s good.”
When all is said and done though, Cobb did a good job of making the proper adjustments, calling his four innings on the mound “A good little last minute lesson.” Cobb went on to say,
“I was good. I came out in the first and I was a little bit uncomfortable and then really, made an adjustment and got comfortable and we got more aggressive with my fastball.”
A few other game highlights
- Longoria was on a roll Thursday night, hitting a towering solo homer and a double to the left center gap.
- James Loney, who’s having a great spring at the plate, hit another RBI double in the sixth inning.
- Matt Joyce reportedly likes the leadoff spot, started the game with double down right field line, then beat the shift with a bunt single to third base for the second consecutive game.
- Brandon Gomes put together another spotless outing, this time giving up no hits, walks or runs in his inning of work, while striking out two
The New What Next
LHP Matt Moore will start Friday afternoon when the Rays travel to Lakeland to take on the Tigers — Mother nature willing, of course. Moore will be making his first appearance since getting hit in the mouth by a line drive Sunday against the Red Sox. Also slated to see work are right-handers Josh Lueke, Grant Balfour, and Joel Peralta along with left-hander Jake McGee.
Rays 3/28/14 Starting Lineup
Joyce LF
Molina C
Betemit 1B
Myers RF
Forsythe SS
Rodriguez 3B
Guyer CF
Olmedo 2B
Leonard DH
Moore LHP
Noteworthiness
- Maddon said Wil Myers is fine after being hit by pitch Wednesday. He’s scheduled to play Friday, in Lakeland.
- INF Jayson Nix hasn’t been released, and the Rays have given him a lot of time to think about his options. Maddon reportedly hopes he stays.
- Nothing has been made official on the final bullpen spots, but indications are that Brandon Gomes and Josh Lueke will make team — as we predicted late last week.
- The rotation has been set: Price, Cobb, Moore, Archer, Odorizzi. I’d have thought Archer and Moore would’ve been flip-flopped. Then again, I’d also imagine Maddon was going for variation in pitching styles, as well as separating the lefties and righties.
- Maddon on clinching the Grapefruit League title, “Let the grapefruit juice flow — and make sure it’s Tropicana.”
- The Rays announced the ninth straight home opener sellout for Monday. I hope you all got your tickets!
- It looks as if the Rays 360 project is done. Note the added walkway and the change of the Batter’s Eye to The Porch in the picture below.
