The Tampa Bay Rays lost to the Detroit Tigers by a score of 6-3, in their final meeting (of the spring) against a big league lineup. There isn’t much to say about the Rays offensive output. Rather, to put it succinctly, the Tigers started a big league squad, and the Rays did not. Simple as that. There were a few noteworthy post-game positives.
Matt Moore’s 3 IP/7 H/3 ER/0 BB/4 K line doesn’t look too impressive. I’d argue however, there were a handful of upsides to his outing. Moore didn’t allow a walk — a huge improvement after a pair of multiple walk games. He also settled down after a four hit/two run first inning. It should also be noted that the third inning run had more to do with Jose Molina’s lackadaisical effort in blocking a pair of pitches in the dirt — which allowed Ian Kinsler to go from first to third following a lead off single — than it did with a lack of control by Moore.
“For me, personally, it’s a little bit easier to walk away from a game like this, where I was in a zone,” Moore said. “They beat me. I didn’t put them on. Try to work around some of those base hits, and we’ll be ready for the season.”
Grant Balfour and Josh Lueke put together impressive one inning outings; with Balfour working a stunning six pitch 1-2-3 fifth, and Lueke working around a leadoff base hit in the eighth, coming out unscathed. It also bears mentioning, Brandon Guyer mashed a two-run homer in the ninth off Drew VerHagen.
You can read a blow-by-blow account of the game at our Tumblr page.
The New What Next
Chris Archer will start Saturday afternoon, when the Rays travel to Montgomery to play the Biscuits, the Rays’ Double-A affiliate. It will be Archer’s final spring start before making his first start of the season Thursday night against the Blue Jays.
Rays 3/29/14 Starting Lineup
DeJesus LF
Myers RF
Zobrist 2B
Longoria 3B
Loney 1B
Jennings CF
Joyce DH
Escobar SS
O’Conner C
Archer RHP
Noteworthiness
- Unlike Friday, Joe Maddon has put together a lineup filled largely with the Opening Day regulars. Marc Topkin writes, “Rays regulars will play most of (the) game today in Montgomery, Ala. (They’re) Also bringing six-to-seven minor leaguers on (the) plane for (the) day trip up and back.”
- After putting together a lackluster spring, Erik Bedard has re-signed with the Rays. Cough… I guess he couldn’t find work elsewhere as he previously assumed. I digress. The Rays are in need of depth on the mound after the announcement of Alex Colome’s 50-game suspension. Per Jeff Todd of MLB Trade Rumors, “The Rays have agreed to re-sign left-handed starter Erik Bedard to a minor league deal, reports MLB.com’s Bill Chastain via Twitter. Bedard will provide the club with some depth in the upper minors.”
- Todd also writes, “The Rays have added infielder Mike Fontenot on a minor league deal, tweets Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Fontenot was released earlier today by the Nationals. The 33-year-old had seen at least some time at the Major League level in every season since 2006 before spending last year with the Rays’ Triple-A affiliate. He hit .264/.335/.379 in 120 games.”
- The Rays finally unveiled the Charlotte Sports Park inspired Porch in center field, answering the questions over whether the 360 project would be done before Monday. It, indeed, will be. Marc Topkin snagged a few photos of the porch, you can see them below:
