What a difference a couple of days make. Two days ago, Wil Myers was stuck in a Spring Training malaise — striking out more than he hit by a ratio of 6-to-4. Then Joe Maddon did what he is want to do; move the struggling batter to the lead-off spot, and thwack! Myers became uber productive, going (a combined) 5-for-7 with three doubles and a homer in the last two games. Myers lead the Rays to a 7-4 victory against the Orioles Wednesday, in Sarasota.
To say Myers, alone, carried the Rays to victory would be a bit misleading. Sure, a lead-off homer in his first at-bat of the day was pretty impressive. But credit where it’s due, Wilson Betemit and Sean Rodriguez deserve accolades as well. Tampa Bay put up a three-run third inning on Betemit’s RBI double and a two-run homer by SeanRod. Betemit also doubled in a run in the fourth. Myers and Rodriguez were not the only mashers of the day, Jayson Nix hit a solo homer to left, giving the Rays a 7-2 lead by the fifth inning. In all, eight of the Rays 14 hits came in the extra base hit variety.
On the pitching end of things, Mark Lowe pitched 2-1/3 innings of solid ball, allowing two unearned runs and scattering four hits, while striking out one. Jake McGee followed Lowe for two thirds of an inning, inducing a ground-out and a fly-out. Per Joe Smith of the Times, McGee said he felt good in his back-to-back outings, which he noted felt like a game situation when he came in to face slugger Chris Davis.
Meanwhile, in the backfields of Port Charlotte, Chris Archer tossed a 91 pitch (62 strikes) 5-1/3 inning outing, relinquishing three runs on six hits (including a two-run homer) and a walk, while striking out four. Archer was reportedly pleased to work into the sixth inning of a minor-league game Wednesday, though he wasn’t particularly happy with how he did during the 91-pitch outing. He was clocked as high as 96 MPH, but worked primarily in the 93-94 MPH range. Archer said, following his time on the mound,
“I think it was good to not be as emotionally excited to pitch and still do decent. By no means did I do well, but it was a challenge. I don’t want to make that excuse, but it was something I had to be conscious of in thinking. Overall I got to my pitch count, got right to 90 pitches, and got up six times, and that was the goal.”
Grant Balfour also pitched in the backfields, and was pleased with his 12 pitch, 1-2/3 inning outing. Balfour will pitch once more Thursday against the Twins, in his first back-to-back outings of Spring Training.
“There will be a little more intensity and you’re bouncing back with no rest,” Balfour said. “That’s always a good test, see how you’re feeling and stuff.”
Balfour was clocked between 90-91 MPH Wednesday, though that’s not quite indicative of what’s to come. “It’s fine; it is what it is right now,” Balfour noted, though he expects an increase of at least a few miles an hour once the regular season starts due to the adrenaline and emotion he pitches with. “I’m not worried about it,” he said. “I’ve done it plenty of times to where I know my body, I know what it does. I’m fine with it.” Balfour went on to say,
“Nothing against being out here, but it is tough to get the adrenaline going,” he said. “With all the emotion it’ll kick into gear in another 10 days and I’ll be right around (92-94 mph).”
The New What Next
LHP Cesar Ramos will start for the Rays Thursday when they host the Twins at Charlotte Sports Park. Tampa Bay took the Knutson Cup from the Twins Tuesday, and look to follow their dominating 11-3 win with another. Ramos is in a three-way battle for the fifth-starter slot with RHP Jake Odorizzi and LHP Erik Bedard. Odorizzi is slated to see action against the Twins, while Bedard will pitch Friday. A decision on who will win the spot is expected Saturday.
Rays 3/20/14 Starting Lineup
Jennings CF
Loney 1B
Zobrist 2B
Longoria 3B
Forsythe LF
Escobar SS
Rodriguez RF
Hanigan C
Guyer DH
Ramos LHP
Noteworthiness
- Matt Joyce left Wednesday’s game as a precaution due to a stiff neck, though he is reportedly fine.