The Tampa Bay Rays fell to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday, 5-4. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

On the day his big $53.5-Million extension with the Tampa Bay Rays was announced, Kevin Kiermaier went 2-2 with a run, an RBI, and a walk. However, in spite of The Outlaw‘s offensive production, the Rays dropped the game 5-4 thanks to an eighth inning run off reliever David Carpenter.

Takeaways from Monday’s ball game:

— Blake Snell made a step forward in his preparation for the regular season. Snell threw five innings for the first time this spring, although he surrendered four runs on seven hits — including a pair of two-run homers, one in each of last two innings — while walking two and hitting one. He struck out three.

Previous to Monday, Snell had not completed three innings in his first four outings. This afternoon he threw 74 pitches (46 strikes) strikes, including 15 of 23 first pitch strikes. The southpaw felt it was a step in the right direction:

I’m getting ready for the season. I’m happy with how I’m going about it. I’m happy that I struggled to start, (it) made me want to learn that much more. I’m aware of what I’m doing, I’m aware of what I need to work on, and I know that it’s spring training and it doesn’t matter. At the same time it matters to me because I know what I need to do for my next outing.


(Audio Courtesy of Rays Radio)

— Even though Snell has not been sharp throughout the spring, Rays manager Kevin Cash said he was “a little better” on Monday, conceding, though, that there is a fair amount of room for growth between now and Opening Day:


(Audio Courtesy of Rays Radio)

On the subject of Snell, Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) put things into perspective, given there are less than two weeks left of Spring Training:

…it’s getting old to hear him keep saying he knows what he has to do to get better. With just one more long outing on Sunday vs. the Yankees and then a short one before the start of the season, the Rays would feel a lot better to see Snell, their likely No. 4 starter, pitch better.

— Kevin Kiermaier = offensive Sparkmarker. The centerfielder legged out an infield hit in his first at-bat, swiped second base, moved to third on a wild pitch, then scored on a single through the infield.

— Xavier Cedeno, making his first back-to-back appearance of the spring, retired the only batter he faced.

— In a minor league game on the back fields, Jake Odorizzi tossed six innings of one-run baseball, throwing 68 pitches (49 strikes) while surrendering just three hits and striking out seven.

The New What Next

The Rays will travel to Bradenton on Tuesday afternoon for another contest against the Pirates. Alex Cobb will get the start for the Rays, pitching opposite of Chad Kuhl. Cobb will be followed by Erasmo Ramirez and Jaime Schultz. Now that Brad Boxberger has been slowed by a lat problem, Schultz is a candidate for the Rays’ bullpen. Steven Souza Jr. and Rickie Weeks will also make the trip to Bradenton. Matt Andriese will pitch in a minor league game as Kevin Cash continues to line up the pitching rotation.

Rays 3/21/17 Starting Lineup

Smith CF
Weeks DH
Souza Jr. RF
Gillaspie 1B
Bauers LF
Franklin 2B
Casali C
Robertson SS
Leonard 3B
Cobb RHP

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