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Rays' Starters Solid In 1st Game Action

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By MARC LANCASTER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 10, 2009

Updated: 03/10/2009 11:52 pm

PORT CHARLOTTE - Tuesday was Matt Garza's first chance to get into a game and try out some of the things he has been working on in his bullpen sessions the last few weeks, but the Blue Jays wouldn't play along.

The first three batters he faced in the top of the first inning were jumping on fastballs as Garza attempted to settle in before getting deeper into his repertoire and coming up with a single and two doubles as a result.

"They got me mad," Garza said. "They got those three straight hits and I got a little ticked off and noticed they were first-pitch-swinging at fastballs, so I started to break my sinker out - 'You guys want to play, I'll play.' So I turned it up a little bit with my sinker and got quick outs."

Try as he might to ease off on the throttle, it's difficult for the ultra-competitive Garza to do so. But he ultimately was satisfied with his two-inning stint, just as Andy Sonnanstine and David Price were with their first spring appearances.

Sonnanstine pitched a perfect fifth inning, while Price shook off leadoff walks to open the seventh and eighth innings to turn in some impressive work of his own. The lefty struck out three and started a double play, but he was most pleased with his work in tackling the No. 1 item on his to-do list for 2009.

"I finally struck somebody out on a change-up; that was huge," Price said. "And it was a lefty, so that's even better. And I got a double-play ball out of one. So I'm proving not only to these guys but I'm proving to myself that I can throw a good change-up to a big-league hitter."

IN THE BULLPEN

RHP Jason Isringhausen impressed Manager Joe Maddon with his live batting practice session Tuesday, but might not make his game debut this weekend as expected. Maddon said Isringhausen will throw at least two more rounds of live BP to help him get a better feel for his command. That could push Isringhausen's first game action back to the middle of next week.

Isringhausen attributed his command issues to adrenaline as he faced hitters for the first time since August.

"It's just emotions more than anything," he said. "You've got your manager out there and you want to impress him, and your team. I kept telling myself all night Monday to control my emotions and I still wasn't able to do it. But that's what makes it fun.

"The last few years in St. Louis, it didn't matter what I did; I was on the team. Now it means a little more and you get a little nervous. It's fun."

Also, RHP Grant Balfour's pitching arm looked a lot better Tuesday, three days after it absorbed a line drive during his first spring appearance. He threw a light bullpen session to keep loosening up and said he still expects to pitch in Thursday's game.

ORVELLA, OTHERS GET THE AX

Reliever Chad Orvella was the most notable name among the seven players the Rays cut Tuesday morning. He was reassigned to minor-league camp along with pitchers Jason Cromer, Neal Frontz and Calvin Medlock and catchers Craig Albernaz and Nevin Ashley. The Rays also optioned LHP James Houser to Durham.

The moves left the Rays with 56 players officially in camp, including the three who are away participating in the World Baseball Classic.

Orvella, 28, said he was a bit surprised to be sent back so early, but he continues to focus on recovering from the shoulder injury that sidelined him for all of 2008.

"I'm using spring training to get my arm healthy again," he said. "Whether it's here, whether it's down there, it's just innings at this point."

NOTEWORTHY

DH Pat Burrell hit a grand slam in the fifth, his first homer with the Rays. ... RF Ray Sadler launched a mammoth shot to left in the seventh, his third homer of the spring. ... LHP Carlos Hernandez will start Friday against the Blue Jays instead of RHP Wade Davis. ... Maddon picked Price as his "sleeper" to win today's annual charity golf tournament in Bradenton. "I played with him a couple days ago and it's incredible how he hits a golf ball," Maddon said.

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