ST. PETERSBURG - Jeff Niemann threw three no-hit innings to lead the Tampa Bay
Rays to a 9-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies at Al Lang
Field before a crowd of 3,836.
Niemann (1-0) walked two and struck out
a pair in his second spring training outing.
The Rays scored three times against Phillies'
starter Cole Hamels (0-1) in his third and final inning.
The lefty struck out two, walked one and saw his ERA jump
to 12.60.
Jason Bartlett led the Rays' offense with
two hits in three trips to the plate scoring a run and knocking
in one.
Elliott Johnson had two hits in two at-bats
after coming in for second-baseman Akinori Iwamura. He scored
twice.
Tampa Bay blew the game open in the seventh
and eighth off reliever Carlos Carrasco wit worked an inning
and two-thirds allowing six runs and five hits. He hurt
himself with four walks.
The big blow against Carrasco was a double
by centerfielder Ben Zobrist with the bases loaded. Catcher
Josh Paul was thrown out at the plate attempting to make
it a three-run hit.
Fabio Castro was superb for Philadelphia
working three scoreless, hitless frames.
J.P. Howell of the Rays also went three
innings in relief and was touched up for the Phillies only
run, an RBI single by Pat Burrell.
NOTES: Due to rainouts and shortened games,
both teams played on after the game was official to get
in some additional work. The Phillies received a call from
the Rays and brought extra players to St. Petersburg to
accommodate the extra innings.