Cesar Ramos got his first Grapefruit League win of 2013 as the Rays rolled over the dreadful Red Sox by a score of 6-3. As Matthew Leach from MLB.com put it,
The Rays used a broad-based offensive attack to take down a Red Sox split squad, 6-3, at Charlotte Sports Park on Monday afternoon.
Seven of Tampa Bay’s nine starters either scored or drove in a run as the Rays jumped on starter Alfredo Aceves and reliever Chris Hernandez. Ryan Roberts had the game’s biggest hit, a two-run double off Hernandez in the fourth.
The Rays improved to on the spring to 3-1 with the victory. I know it’s only Spring Training, but it’s always wonderful to watch the Red Sox falter. Selected bulleted highlights and lowlights follow the box and line scores.
Game Highlights and Lowlights
- Alex Cobb wasn’t particulalry sharp in his two innings of work, throwing 38 pitches, with a noticeable lack of command. He felt fine, and found some satisfaction in getting several ground ball outs. “Obviously the results weren’t great, but this time of year I’m looking to feel good, and I did,” Cobb was quoted as saying following his outing today. “The home run isn’t very good, and the RBI double wasn’t very good, but I got a lot of ground balls, which is what I’m looking for.”
- Jamey Wright struck out two in a perfect third inning, while Cesar Ramos retired all six batters he faced. Ramos inevitably walked away with a W, his first of the spring.
- The Rays relievers didn’t relent any hits until the eighth inning, when Boston managed a run on two hits against Neil Schenk.
- Offense, offense, offense. As Matthew Leach noted above, seven of Tampa Bay’s nine starters either scored or drove in a run.
- Ryan Roberts had the game’s biggest hit, a two-run double off Hernandez in the fourth. Roberts also made an impressive defensive play at third.
- Yunel Escobar came up big with a two-run double to put the Rays on the board in the first, and Ryan Roberts another in the fourth.
- Leslie Anderson had another hit today, ending the day 1-1 at the plate.
- Ben Zobrist ended the day with a hit in three at-bats including an RBI single in the fourth inning, which gave the Rays a 5-2 lead.
- First baseman James Loney went 2-2 while scoring a run.
- We all know how much I love ESPN. Those idiots already started ruffling the feathers of Rays fans by tweeting, “The fans have spoken! AL East predictions: 1. BlueJays, 2.Orioles, 3. Yankees, Tied at 4. RedSox, Rays.” Granted these predictions were culled together by baseball fans, though I’m not certain fan stupidity is a valid excuse for a ridiculous set of predictions.
Noteworthiness
The Rays will face the Astros this afternoon in Port Charlotte. 2012 Cy Young Award winner David Price will get his first start of the spring, taking the mound against Houston. Former Rays first baseman, Carlos Pena, will not make the trip to Port Charlotte for today’s match-up. Such is life, we’ll see plenty of them this year. Marc Topkin tweeted, “As of NOW, Rays expecting game to start on time with showers more likely later in afternoon. Would allow Price and Longoria to get work in.” You can see the Rays starting lineup below.
Rays 2/26/13 Starting Lineup:
Zobrist SS
Roberts 2B
Longoria 3B
Anderson LF
Duncan 1B
Myers RF
Cust DH
Fuld CF
Lobaton C
Price LHP
Finally, Johnny Damon is apparently none to pleased with the Rays decision to re-sign Luke Scott. To be fair, I think the majority of Rays fans feel the same about Luke Scott, but I digress. The former Rays DH/OFtold the New York Daily News he thought he had a chance to rejoin the Rays this season but was stung by their lack of interest. The Rays let Damon go following the 2011 season. Tampa Bay signed Luke Scott instead, who was re-signed for 2013 despite a pretty horrendous year. “I guess if you have a bad year and get hurt, you get re-signed,” Damon was quoted a saying. “I had a good year there (.261, 16 HRs, 73 RBIs), and they didn’t want me back.”