Garza Is Disappointed With His First Outing

LAKELAND - Maybe Matt Garza caught a break Monday, as the Tigers only sent out seven of the nine projected regulars in what should be baseball's most dangerous lineup. Still, navigating the likes of Gary Sheffield, Miguel Cabrera and Edgar Renteria made for a daunting first start in a Rays uniform for Garza.

"They're really good. They're stacked," Garza said. "But what can you do? You just keep making pitches and keep getting them to swing at them."

The one time Garza couldn't make that approach work may have been the turning point in the right-hander's 1 2/3 innings of work. After retiring the first two batters he faced in the game, Garza walked Gary Sheffield to open the door. Detroit barged through it with singles by Carlos Guillen and Cabrera, extending the inning and moving Garza closer to his maximum pitch count for the day.

With that in mind, he tried to expedite matters in the second by getting a pair of outs after a leadoff single by Renteria. An RBI double by Curtis Granderson ended Garza's day at 48 pitches, despite his hopes to stay in.

"That was my goal after the first inning: Get through the second inning," he said. "They told me I had a certain number of pitches going out, so I was trying hard to get them to swing at everything. 'Just hit the ball in the dirt, boys!'"

In the end, Garza wasn't terribly pleased with his outing, though he was pumped just to get back on the mound. Despite having a rotation spot firmly in hand, he said he approached his first game the same as he did the last two springs when he was trying to win a job in Twins camp.

"I went at it full-force," Garza said. "I was like - nope, it's not a spring training game, it's a game. There was somebody else in the box. That's definitely how I looked at it as a competitor. I was out there trying to win and I was disappointed in the way I pitched."

REGULAR WORKDAY: Dioner Navarro reported no problems after catching for the first time in Grapefruit League play.

He spent five innings behind the plate and went 1-for-3, legging out an infield single. Navarro had been held back a few more days to get his arm up to speed after he missed the first few days of camp.

"It felt really good behind the plate and my arm feels great," he said.

NO PROBLEM: Less than 24 hours after getting hit in the left ring finger by a pitch, Joel Guzman took early batting practice Monday morning and had no problems.

"He actually swung the bat really well," said Maddon.

Rays trainers drilled a hole in Guzman's fingernail to release some blood and relieve the pressure. He was wearing a sleeve over his finger Monday.

"It helped me a lot when we drilled it," said Guzman.

ON DECK: The Rays will start Edwin Jackson today against the Twins and St. Petersburg native Boof Bonser. Former Rays Delmon Young and Brendan Harris are not expected to be on the Twins' travel roster. ... Wednesday, Jason Hammel will get his first spring start, throwing against Runelvys Hernandez and the Astros at Progress Energy Park. ... Thursday, James Shields gets the ball against Philadelphia's Adam Eaton at Clearwater. ... Jeff Niemann goes against the Phillies' Cole Hamels in a return engagement Friday at Progress Energy Park.

NOTEWORTHY: The Rays are 4-0 in Grapefruit League play for the first time. ... Jonny Gomes hit the Rays' first home run of the spring leading off the sixth inning Monday. He crushed an Armando Galarraga pitch to the far edge of the berm in left field at Joker Marchant Stadium. ... Scott Kazmir said he is "ahead of schedule" as he works his way back from an elbow strain. He could begin playing catch within a day or two. ... David Price felt fine the day after throwing a bullpen session and will either throw batting practice Wednesday or one inning in that day's game. ... Troy Percival will throw a bullpen session today and make his spring debut Thursday.

Marc Lancaster