NORTH PORT (SNN-TV) – The reigning World Series champions, the Atlanta Braves, hosted the Tampa Bay Rays today at CoolToday Park in both team’s fifth Spring game.
The offenses shined in this one, and in the early going it was all Braves. In the second inning Austin Riley picked up where he left off last season with his first Spring homer off of Rays ace Shane McClanahan. Giving the Braves a 1-0 lead.
Not to be out-done, just batters later, Dansby Swanson would go yard as well hitting one out of CoolToday Park completely, extending the Braves lead to 2-0.
Riley would later connect on another home-run, and the Rays would even come all the way back in the 9th to take the lead themselves.
But two RBI singles in the 9th by Atlanta would seal this game’s fate, as it ended in a fashion that only a Spring Training game can, finishing in a tie, 7-7.
Suncoast Spring Training Scoreboard:
FINAL: Pirates 6, Tigers 6
FINAL: Phillies 8, Blue Jays 7
FINAL: Astros 10, Cardinals 3
FINAL: Marlins 3, Nationals 2
FINAL: Twins 10, Red Sox 4