Tampa Bay Rays thrash Minnesota Twins 10-4 – MLB Spring Training
Tampa Bay Rays thrashed Minnesota Twins 10-4 at the Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers in Florida on Monday, March 26 in their Grapefruit League encounter of the 2012 Major League Baseball Spring Training Session.
Minnesota’s starter Scott Baker had a horrible time on the mound as he struggled to pitch with control and accuracy. Allowing seven runs in just over two innings including a Grand Slam to Ben Zobrist, he looked completely out of sorts.
"Our starting pitcher put us in a hole today," Ron Gardenhire said. "He got his work in, yes. But we chased the ball all over the field and spent eight hours in the first three innings out there. That ain't good enough. He's got to pick up the pace and get
going now. He says his arm's fine, everything's good."
"We've got a long season," Baker said. "To sit here and say that's the most important thing, to make that home opener start, that's just not the case. Obviously I'd love to make that start, but if I can't, I can't."
For the Rays, Jeff Niemann gave up just two runs and six hits in five innings. The guy is competing for the fifth starting spot on Rays’ pitching rotation and he will be eager to impress his skipper.
The win will be of great importance for the Rays, who have struggled to achieve their desired goals since the start of spring season. Rays’ poor 7-14 win-loss record suggests that they will have to work extremely hard to put things on the right track before
the opening day.
For once the Rays will be extremely content with their spirit in a game that was dominated by them in almost every aspect. Making the most of available opportunities, the Rays secured the American League East Division title in 2008 and 2010.
However, Joe Maddon and his men have never been able to win the World Series title. It will be interesting to see if they can bounce back from a poor spring season to make it to the World Series finals in 2012.
Tags: