Identical 6-3 split-squad victories over the Pirates and Orioles get Rays out of the blocks in a hurry.
In Port Charlotte it was Brad Miller, Kevin Kiermaier, and Denard Span leading the way.
Span, went 2-for-3 at the plate and stole a base in his Rays debut. Kiermaier drove in two and finished 1-for-2 with a run. Miller had a 2-RBI double off the left field wall in the four-run third inning, as well.
The sound off Span’s bat is fantastic.
Really think this could be an under the radar signing for #Rays.#SpringRays #PITvsTB
— Khaki Man (@ScrumRyanRadio) February 23, 2018
The lone home run of the afternoon came off the bat of Adeiny Hechavarria. His solo shot came in a two-run sixth inning.
LHP Vidal Nuno pitched 1.2 innings of one-run ball. RHP Austin Pruitt would get the win going 1.1 innings in relief.
RHP Ryne Stanek would struggle a bit in the sixth inning. He would allow the Pirates to get right back in the ballgame giving up two runs, one earned, and walking two.
Youngsters shine against Orioles
J. Scott Butherus, The Scrum Sports MLB Writer
Rays vs. Orioles Opening Day at Ed Smith #SpringTrainingFL https://t.co/KD1T22wxmk
— j. Scott Butherus (@JScottButherus) February 23, 2018
The prospect-laden group included first baseman Jake Bauers and shortstop Willy Adames, the team’s top two rated position player prospects. The young arms would set the stage early in Sarasota on their way to a 6-3 win.
Starter Yonny Chirinos allowed just one hit in two innings of work – an infield single to former Rays shortstop Tim Beckham who got the start at third. He struck out one and walked none while experimenting with a new grip on his split-finger.
“It’s the first time that I competed,” Chirinos said. “They are big league guys on that bench so I went to the mound, went after the hitter and competed.”
Hunter Wood, Ryan Weber, Adam Kolarek, Andrew Kittredge, Kyle Bird, Ian Gibault tossed a scoreless frame each
Adames, who finished the day 1-for-2, got the Rays on the board in the top of the first with a sacrifice fly to center. DH Johnny Monell doubled off the wall to straightaway left to start the second off Baltimore reliever Chris Lee. A single by catcher Adam Moore and a walk to Micah Johnson loaded the bases with no outs. Lee was able to induce a 6-4-3 double play to end the threat with only one run crossing the plate.
“It was a pretty good at-bat,” Monell said. “The kind of at-bat you like to have at this point in spring training, especially when you can go the other way against a left-handed pitcher.”
Catcher Nick Ciuffo added a two-run single in the top of the seventh and Kevin Padlo had a two-run home run to left in the eighth.
