In a bout of deja vu, Tampa Bay swept their split squad games against the Pirates and the Jays Saturday, winning both games by a score of 6-3. “A good day for the Rays,” bench coach Dave Martinez said.
The three pitchers involved in the battle for the fifth starter spot — Erik Bedard, Jake Odorizzi and Cesar Ramos — each pitched Saturday, and each did pretty well.
In his start against the Blue Jays, Bedard got into a bit of trouble in the second inning, allowing a one-out single to Brad Glenn, followed by a Kevin Pillar triple to left. Pillar subsequently scored on a wild pitch (with Dan Johnson at the plate) to put the Blue Jays up, 2-0. But Bedard settled down, slashing 4.1 IP/6 H/3 R/3 ER/0 BB/2 K on 79 pitches (49 strikes). Odorizzi got the start in Bradenton, and gave up one lowly run in 3-2/3 innings of work. He did an excellent job of keeping the ball on the ground, inducing six ground outs while striking out a pair of Pirates. Ramos followed and performed well in his outing, slashing 5.1 IP/4 H/2 R/2 ER/0 BB/2 K. “Odorizzi said he was encouraged how he settled in after (a) rough first inning,” writes Tampa Bay Times’ Joe Smith. Odorizzi feels “he’s made good case for (the) number five starter (spot).” In the end, Dave Martinez liked what both Jake Odorizzi and Cesar Ramos did today, and because of it, the fifth starter will be a “tough decision.” On to the offensive end of things.
The Rays got on the board against the Blue Jays in the second inning, thanks to Justin Christian who hit a sacrifice fly to left, driving in Logan Forsythe. Tampa Bay blew the game open a few batters later, when Mikie Mahtook mashed a grand slam to left field, on a 1-2 pitch, scoring Ryan Hanigan, Brandon Guyer and Jeremy Moore. Evan Longoria tacked on an insurance run in the fourth on a ground ball to center, scoring Yunel escobar.
In the first inning against the Pirates, Ben Zobrist drove in David DeJesus on a ground out to short, moving Desmond Jennings to third. Then with Matt Joyce batting, Edinson Volquez let loose with a wild pitch and Desmond Jennings came around to give Tampa Bay an early 2-0 lead. The Rays struck again in the top of the second when Cole Figueroa doubled to center, bringing Wilson Betemit home. The hits kept on coming for the Rays in the top of the third, when Matt Joyce singled in Ben Zobrist on a ground ball to right field.
The Rays were quiet until Jerry Sands singled in Leonardo Reginatto and Lucas Bailey on a line drive to left field, giving Tampa Bay a three run advantage they’d never relinquish.
A scary moment came in the third inning when Rays right fielder Wil Myers left the game against the Pirates in pain after fouling a pitch off his right leg. The reigning AL Rookie of the Year suffered a right quad contusion and was removed as a precaution. In an account of the incident, Myers tried to walk it off, getting attended to by athletic trainer Paul Harker. Myers bent over a few times, clearly in discomfort, and was helped into the dugout by Harker.
Though Myers was sore and will likely be out for a few days, he shouldn’t be out long. “I probably would have stayed in if it were a regular season game that meant something,” Myers said. “But just want to be cautious about something like this.” He went on to say, “Might play tomorrow, who knows?”
Myers later tweeted,
Nothing but a bad bruise. I’ll be back in lineup asap!
— Wil Myers (@wilmyers) March 15, 2014
The New What Next
David Price will start Sunday afternoon, when the Rays host the Red Sox Charlotte Sports Park. Price, who will be the Rays’ Opening Day starter, will be making his third official start of the spring.
Rays 3/16/13 Starting Lineup
DeJesus CF
Zobrist 2B
Longoria 3B
Loney 1B
Escobar SS
Joyce RF
Betemit DH
Forsythe LF
Hanigan C
Price LHP
Noteworthiness
- Joe Maddon has been impressed with bullpen candidate RHP Brandon Gomes: “He can’t throw the ball any better than he is right now.”
- Juan Carlos Oviedo, absent for camp’s first month while dealing with visa issues in the Dominican Republic, finally reported to camp Saturda. “I’m happy to be here. I was waiting for it, I was anxious to be here, but I didn’t know what was going on,” Oviedo said through bullpen mate and interpreter Joel Peralta. “I just trained at home and waited for things to happen.” The Rays medical and training staff were impressed with Oviedo’s throwing session in Port Charlotte Saturday. Maddon said Oviedo, 32, was “on the edge” of having enough time to get ready for the season.
- Rays say their game Sunday with Red Sox is sold out.