Rays reliever Kyle Farnsworth looked good in his first outing of the spring, putting together a 1-2-3 inning, while hitting 92 MPH on the ballpark radar gun. (Photo courtesy of the Tampa Bay Times)
Rays reliever Kyle Farnsworth looked good in his first outing of the spring, putting together a 1-2-3 inning, while hitting 92 MPH on the ballpark radar gun. (Photo courtesy of the Tampa Bay Times)

Tampa Bay Rays reliever Kyle Farnsworth looked good in his first outing of the spring, as the Rays eked out a W against the Philadelphia Phillies Friday, by a score of 3-2. The Rays will face the Phillies for the second consecutive day, this time in Clearwater.

Farnsworth worked a 1-2-3 inning and hitting 92 mph on the stadium radar gun, and noted that there are no current concerns about his previously balky right elbow. David Price really didn’t look sharp, though he still got the win thanks to Evan Longoria’s big 2-RBI double in the third which gave the Rays all the runs they’d need.

Price was hit hard, allowing eight hits – though only two runs – in four innings. Michael Young drove in a run with a first-inning single, the last of three straight hits the Phillies put together at the beginning of the  the game. Kevin Frandsen also had two hits off Price, including a solo homer in the third. Price was encouraged by the fact that he allowed only two runs while walking none in the 61-pitch outing.

I felt fine. It’s part of spring training. One day you feel great, the next day you feel not so great,” Price added. “But I’m not blaming this on the way I felt or anything. They hit the ball. They hit me well. (Batting practice) was at 11, not 1:05. I didn’t get the memo.

Rays right fielder Matt Joyce made a pair of excellent plays, ultimately saving a couple of runs. In the first inning Joyce gunned down Frandsen trying to advance to third base on a single. He followed that up with a nice throw to the plate, preventing Darin Ruf from scoring to end the fourth.

Catcher Chris Gimenez continued his hot hitting, mashing two more hits while upping his Grapefruit League average to .526 (10-for-19). Jamey Wright, Joel Peralta and Brandon Gomes were sharp. Gomes posted his fourth scoreless outing.

Jeff Niemann, who continues his pursuit of the fifth spot on the rotation, will take the mound against the Phillies today.

Rays 3/9/13 Starting Rotation:

Jennings CF
Rodriguez 1B
Roberts 3B
Duncan DH
Myers LF
Guyer RF
Lobaton C
Fontenot 2B
O’malley SS
Niemann RHP

 

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