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Good Vibe, Bad Score in Rays' Spring Opener

Tribune photo by CLIFF McBRIDE

Evan Longoria signs autographs before today's spring training opener against the Reds in Port Charlotte.

By TONY FABRIZIO | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 26, 2009

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PORT CHARLOTTE - The American League champion Tampa Bay Rays opened their Grapefruit League schedule and christened their new spring training digs with a bang this afternoon.

Unfortunately, the bang was provided by the other team: a fifth-inning grand slam by Jerry Hairston Jr. that provided the main thunder in a 7-0 Cincinnati Reds victory.

A sun-drenched crowd of 6,028 didn't seem too bothered by the meaningless loss. Baseball is back, considerable optimism surrounds the Rays and a feel-good vibe prevailed.

The raising of a championship flag helped open renovated Charlotte Sports Park, home of the Texas Rangers from 1997 to 2002. Many fans watched from grassy berms down the foul lines or a boardwalk in the backfield. A tiki bar in center field did a brisk business.

Rays manager Joe Maddon gives little credence to spring training results and dismisses the notion last year's 18-8-2 preseason mark launched the team on its improbable World Series run. He says the effort that went to the record rather than the record itself provided the momentum.

"The record in spring training is really deceiving," Maddon said. "A lot of that's based on your backups [playing the mid to late innings]. If you have better nonregulars, you have a chance to win more games."

Hairston's slammer and the three singles that preceded it were given up Randy Choate, a former New York Yankees and Arizona lefty who's in camp as a nonroster invitee.

But a two-run homer in the ninth by Adam Rosales was surrendered by Mitch Talbot, one of four or five pitchers who are competing for the No. 5 spot in the Tampa Bay rotation.

The Rays got solid pitching from two other guys who are in that mix. Carlos Hernandez started and pitched two scoreless and hitless innings. Jason Hammel also pitched two scoreless innings, but he gave up three singles along the way.

Hammel, 26, knows he doesn't have the luxury some other pitchers have of easing into the spring schedule.

"I'm not really worried about that," he said. "I want to make sure I'm ready and whatever I can do to show them I'm competing for this job … then if I earn it, I earn it. But I'm more worried about just making sure I can stay injury-free and get ready for the season."

The Rays did little at the plate today. Regulars Jason Bartlett and Carl Crawford each singled, but Tampa Bay went from the third inning to the eighth without getting a hit. Justin Ruggiano and Chris Richard doubled in the eighth and ninth innings, respectively.

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