Tampa Bay's opening day starter, and candidate for the No. 5 role, both looked strong on Sunday as the Rays went 1-1 in a pair of split-squad road games. Scott Kazmir struck out seven as the Rays won 5-4 over the Phillies in Clearwater, while Howell went three innings but Detroit won 6-0 in Lakeland.
Howell was not as effective as Tigers starter Nate Robertson, who worked five quick innings allowing just two hits.
In Clearwater, where base coach Tom Foley managed the team, the Rays fell behind 3-0 when Philadelphia finally got to Kazmir in the sixth. Ryan Howard stroked a long RBI double for the game's first run and Pat Burrell whacked a two-run homer.
But Tampa Bay took the lead with four runs off the Phillies bullpen in the seventh, including a two-run single by someone made for a split-squad game, Josh Arhart. Chad Orvella gave up a run in the eighth but B.J. Upton's RBI triple in the ninth won it.
Brett Myers shut the Rays out for the first sixth innings, also striking out seven. Kazmir said his slider was working at its best. "I finally got a good feel for it and was able to bury it," he said.
Ben Zobrist was 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI. In Lakeland, Howell gave up one run in his three frames and then Edwin Jackson took a step back in his bid to be the No. 5 starter, walking five in his three innings. He walked the bases loaded in his first inning of work but managed to not allow a run in the frame.
Monday is the only open date on the Rays' spring schedule.
Casey Fossum was far from spectacular, but at least he got stretched out a little Saturday. Fossum went 2 2/3 innings in Tampa Bay's 5-3 loss to Cleveland at Progress Energy Park.
Fossum, who underwent offseason shoulder surgery, went just one inning in his spring debut earlier in the week. On Saturday he gave up three hits and walked two in a 2 2/3 innings but did not allow a run.
Cleveland scored two runs each against Gary Glover and Tim Corcoran.
Akinori Iwamura had a triple for and scored on Shawn Riggans' RBI single, and later in the game Iwamura drove in a run with a groundout. Tampa Bay is now 2-15 this spring.
For the first time in nearly two weeks the Devil Rays walked off a winner, beating Pittsburgh 8-3 on Friday afternoon. The Rays put it away with four runs in the eighth inning.
James Shields went five innings, giving up two runs on eight hits and striking out four. Dan Miceli pitched the sixth and got credit for the win as Tampa Bay took a 4-3 lead in the bottom half of the inning. Iwamura's second hit of the spring was the go-ahead double.
Tampa Bay had lost its last 13 in a row. Jorge Cantu and Delmon Young had two hits apiece. Six different players drove in one run each.
Seth McClung was the lone smudgemark, but what a dirty smudge he left Thursday night. The would-be Rays closer gave up all of the runs in a 5-0 Tampa Bay loss to the Indians at Winter Haven.
Jae Seo went four tremendous innings in getting the start, then McClung entered in the fifth and struggled. He was supposed to pitch two innings but after throwing 37 pitches he was lifted.
raiders_umpire wrote:The record not withstanding, I have been pretty pleased with most of our squad this spring so far.
As have I. The pitchers who are going to be on the team outside of suck mcclung and lugo have pitched extremely well, Upton has only made 2 errors, both were at 3rd and he has looked great at 2B. The younger guys have started to come around, aki is starting to adjust and his defense is as advertised. I do not care what the record is in ST as long as the guys who are going to be on the team look good and show me they are improving.
deerayfan072 wrote:Joel Guzman was optioned to Durham
If he can get some help with his swing, he could be a huge producer this summer. I still think he is a year or 2 away, but he has legit power which is something we really lack at the big league level right now.
CC Zobrist Rocco Wiggy Norton Cantu Young Aki Paul
Wow Delmon down to 7th. I understand not putting him in 4th to handle all the pressure, but he has been a top prospect for his entire life, so he should be able to handle some pressure of at least hitting 5th or so.
CC Zobrist Rocco Wiggy Norton Cantu Young Aki Paul
Wow Delmon down to 7th. I understand not putting him in 4th to handle all the pressure, but he has been a top prospect for his entire life, so he should be able to handle some pressure of at least hitting 5th or so.
Ok so it looks like it is working
we are up 7-0
CC- 1-4 2RBI 1 R
Zobrist 2-4 1 R 1 RBI
Rocco 3-3 1 RBI 1 R 1 SB
Wiggy 1-2 2BB
Young 2-3 2R 1 Sb
Aki 2-3 1 R 1 SB
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by BooksRnot4U » Sun Mar 18, 2007 10:28 pm 
I understand not putting him in 4th to handle all the pressure, but he has been a top prospect for his entire life, so he should be able to handle some pressure of at least hitting 5th or so.
