The Rays matched up at home against the 3-12 Pirates for the 2nd time this week. They won the first meeting this past Thursday by one run, but they would score the same number of runs as Pittsburgh this afternoon as the game would end in a 2-2 tie. It was another slow day for the Tampa offense as they failed to score more than 3 runs for the 5th straight day. Despite the offensive struggles, the pitching remained dominate. Josh Fleming started on the mound in this one as he tossed 3 innings giving up just one hit and and one run. The one Pirates run came off of a Colin Moran single in the top of the 1st. Nick Anderson came in for the 5th inning. He gave up one hit and struck out the former Ray, Guillermo Heredia. Anderson kept his immaculate ERA of 0.00 intact. Tampa Bay reliever, Oliver Drake, entered in the top of the 6th inning and struck out 2 Pittsburgh hitters. Minor league pitcher, Sam McWilliams, gave up the 2nd Pirates’ run that squandered the Rays’ slim lead in the 9th inning.
A few highlight performances on the offensive side today included those from Yandy Diaz and Willy Adames. Yandy reached base 3 times on 2 hits including a triple to right field in the 2nd inning. He would score the first Rays’ run after a wild pitch thrown by Mitch Keller during the next at-bat. Diaz improved his average to .308 for the spring. A number like that gives him a solid chance of making the lineup on opening day. Adames reached base twice today on a walk and a single. His walk in the 5th inning led to the 2nd Rays’ run as Austin Meadows brought him in with an RBI fielder’s choice to the Pirates shortstop, Cole Tucker. Willy is now hitting .389 during spring training. He hit a respectable .254 in 152 games last season, but if he can raise that closer to .300 then he will be seen as one of the best middle infielders in the American League.
Tampa Bay Rays Reviews 