PORT CHARLOTTE (SNN-TV) – Nine days and counting until Opening Day for the MLB, and as Tampa Bay prepares for Baltimore to start the season, the Rays hosted the Minnesota Twins today at Charlotte Sports Park.
Final: Tampa Bay Rays 4, Minnesota Twins 2
The score was all knotted up at one apiece in the bottom of the 2nd, when Manuel Margot connects on his first home run of the spring, breaking the 1-1 tie. Rays lead 2-1
Rays starter Drew Rasmussen fared well today against the Twins as he went 3 innings, giving up only 2 hits and 1 earned run to go along with 2 strikeouts and no walks.
Rasmussen was replaced by reliever Brooks Raley and subsequently gave up a solo shot by Carlos Correa in the 4th inning, tying the game back up at 2. The longball was Correa’s first home run as a Twin.
Despite Correa’s display, the Rays would eek out the win today over Minnesota, 4-2, and are back in action on the road tomorrow at Ed Smith Stadium against the Orioles.
Final: Pittsburgh Pirates 6, Boston Red Sox 2:
To Bradenton now, as the Pirates hosted the Boston Red Sox this afternoon at LECOM Park.
In the 5th inning, Pirates 1B Daniel Vogelbach went deep for the first time with a 377-foot homer to right field. The first of many Vogey-bombs that’ll soon be deposited into the Allegheny in Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh’s Mitch Keller extended his scoreless streak to 8 and 2/3 innings after tossing 4 innings without allowing a run today.
Already leading, 3-0, Pirates infielder Kevin Newman added a three-run homer in the sixth inning for the 24th homer of the spring for the Bucs, making it 6-0.
The Pirates would cruise to a 6-2 win today over Boston, and tomorrow Pittsburgh will travel to Fort Myers to face the Twins at 1:05pm.
Spring Training Scoreboard:
Final: Yankees 14, Phillies 2
Final: Astros 3, Nationals 1
Off – Atlanta Braves
Off – Baltimore Orioles
