SARASOTA, FL – Steven Souza Jr (3-for-4) and Corey Dickerson (4-for-4) led a barrage of Rays hits (19) in a 9-6 win over the Baltimore Orioles in Sarasota on Tuesday. RHP Wade Miley took the hill for the O’s and gave up seven of those hits to go along with three runs in three innings of work. The Rays countered with LHP Blake Snell who, despite walking five hitters in 2.2 innings, only allowed a single run throwing 60 pitches. He had walked just one hitter in his first 6.2 innings this spring before his five free passes Tuesday.
The Orioles would hit three home runs off Rays relievers the rest of the way but the offense would keep responding led by Souza Jr’s three RBI day.
Former Rays OF prospect, Chris Rickard, would hit one of the three bombs off his former team and finish the afternoon 1-for-3 with a strikeout.
For the Rays, Curt Casali, Braxton Lee, and Jonah Heim also had a pair of hits and Daniel Robertson finished 1-for-3 with a walk.
Robertson, who’s struggled at the plate this spring, was pleased with his performance against the Orioles.
“I feel really pleased with today and how it went,” Robertson said. “From the outside eye it looks like I’m pressing a little. I came into spring trying different things. Trial and error. Better to iron things out in March rather than April/May.”
Snell was hoping to get deeper into the game making his fourth start of the spring. Tom Foley, the Rays bench coach who was managing the Sarasota team while Kevin Cash managed in Port Charlotte against the Yankees, had hoped to get Snell through five innings today. However, his pitch count would throw a wrench into those plans and Snell was disappointed in himself.
“I’d say command was pretty bad,” the lefty said after his start. “It’s been frustrating. My bullpens I’ve felt really good. I need to learn from it now and I need to adjust.”
NOTES:
- The Rays split squad today was the only one of the spring. The other game down in Port Charlotte saw them defeat the Yankees 10-6.
- Rickie Weeks Jr hit his team-leading third home run v Yankees Tuesday. Also leads team in RBI with nine and is hitting .500 (9-for-18) this spring.
NEXT UP:
- The Rays host the Red Sox in Port Charlotte Wednesday. RHP Matt Andriese will make his second start, third appearance of the spring while Boston will counter with RHP Kyle Kendrick who will be making his fourth start, fifth appearance. First pitch is set for 1:05 PM from Charlotte Sports Park.
