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Jeff Niemann was in the 85-86 mph range during much of his 71-pitch outing. (Photo courtesy of James Borchuck/Tampa Bay Times)

The Rays put the brakes on their three-game losing skid with a 4-3 win over the Orioles on Thursday. Tampa Bay caught a break, scoring the winning run when Baltimore catcher Luis Exposito was called for using his mask to pick up the ball. That ninth-inning call allowed Wil Myers to score after he doubled and moved to third on a wild pitch.

The Rays scored their three initial runs in the third inning following a Luke Scott two-run blast to right-center off of Mike Belfiore and an Evan Longoria RBI double.

Jeff Niemann got the start for the Rays and worked into the fifth. Niemann allowed four hits and was charged with a run when Juan Sandoval gave up a three-run homer to Matt Wieters.

Niemann threw the ball relatively well, though he didn’t throw the ball hard. The tall RHP was clocked mostly at 85-86 mph while topping out an 88, below his normal velocity. Though his velocity was down, Niemann mentioned everything was fine, and that he thought the in house radar gun may have been a little off. Joe Maddon noted that there wasn’t any concern that Niemann was injured, “He was not wincing. There were no issues.”

A bit of trepidation would be par for the course, Niemann said he was throwing that way by design. Niemann focused on movement rather than velocity, throwing cutters and two-seam fastballs during his outing.

We’re definitely going more movement right now; we’re able to execute and get those bad swings and get those weak-hit balls. For me, it’s more important what the hitter’s telling me than what the radar gun says.

The Rays return to Port Charlotte on Friday where they’ll take on the Phillies with Matt Moore on the mound. We’ll post the starting lineup when it becomes available.

Moving on, Marc Topkin reported that the Rays are expected to send uber prospect Wil Myers to Triple-A Durhm within the next couple of days.

Sometime in the next couple of days, maybe even this morning, Wil Myers will be summoned from the Rays’ Port Charlotte clubhouse to the conference room across from manager Joe Maddon’s office and told he is headed to Durham, N.C., to open the season.

This move is not surprising. The consensus has always been the Myers will start the season in Durham with a projected July call up. And you’d better believe that once the move is made official, speculation will begin on when he’ll be called up. Until then, Myers will use the opportunity to grow.

I just go out and play my game and try to get better every day. Whenever the front office thinks it’s time, then that’s when it happens.

Finally in WBC news, closer Fernando Rodney came close to sinking team USA’s battleship, striking out teammate Ben Zobrist as part of his 1-2-3 ninth inning. On watching the Rodney face Zobrist in the WBC, Joe Maddon said, “It was kinda weird. I could understand the Harbaughs. Who do you root for?” The Dominican Republic beat the United States 3-1 Thursday, forcing the Americans to drop into tonight’s elimination game against Puerto Rico.

Rays 3/15/13 Starting Lineup:

Jennings CF
Escobar SS
Longoria 3B
Duncan DH
Roberts 1B
Johnson 2B
Rodriguez LF
Myers RF
Lobaton C
Moore LHP

 

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