In a 7-6 extra innings loss to the New York Yankees yesterday, Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Jeremy Hellickson allowed four runs on eight hits and two walks through seven innings. In his fifth appearance of the spring, Hellickson gave up a two-run homer to Kevin Youkilis in the first inning and a solo shot off the bat of Travis Hafner in the sixth.
Hellickson also gave up an RBI-triple to Eduardo Nunez in the third inning. Nunez drove in Brett Gardner who had reached base after grounding into a force-out earlier in the inning.
The 2012 Gold Glover made a nice defensive play in the fifth inning. When Ichiro Suzuki hit a ground ball single into right field, Hellickson ran to cover first base and tagged Ichiro out, who made a too wide turn at first, with the relay from Matt Joyce.
Joyce was 2-4 today and had an RBI single in the top of the first.
Overall, it was a decent, not spectacular, outing from Hellickson, who is likely to have one final spring training start before the season begins in eight days.
The Rays rallied in a four run fourth inning, with RBI’s from Jose Molina, Desmond Jennings (who had two doubles on the day) and Ben Zobrist.
Jake Hager, who spent last year with the Bowling Green Hot Rods, hit a game tying two-out RBI double to the gap in right center.
Ultimately, the Yankees won the game in the bottom of the tenth on a walk-off homerun by left fielder Ronnier Mustelier off of Rays reliever, Josh Lueke.
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Per @RMooneyTBO, Sam Fuld played right field for five innings during an intersquad game on Sunday morning and went 1-for-6 at the plate.
Rays minor league prospects Wil Myers and Tim Beckham have both been held out of games due to wrist soreness, but are expected to return to action soon, per @TBTimes_Rays.
David Price says he is still working on regaining the feel of being on the mound. Opening day is not too far away, Mr. Price!
Matt Moore gets the start tonight at 7:05 as the Rays host the Pittsburgh Pirates at Charlotte Sports Park. Brandon Gomes and Joel Peralta are also scheduled to pitch this evening.
Beyond the Fences:
Notable Injuries Around the League:
- Red Sox centerfielder Jacoby Ellsbury was removed early from their game yesterday against the Phillies with a jammed right heel. He will be re-evaluated by the team today.
- It looks like Derek Jeter is heading to the DL to start the season. The Yankees are hopeful that Jeter and his bionic ankle will return to the lineup as soon as April 6th.
- Dodgers first baseman, Adrian Gonzalez, was scratched from the lineup on Sunday due to a bruised right forearm, stemming from an HBP in Saturday’s game against the White Sox.
- Speaking of the Dodgers, Hanley Ramirez returned to the team yesterday after having a successful surgery on his torn right thumb ligament. He is in a cast and is expected to resume baseball activities in three weeks.
MLB plans to honor the Newtown victims during the opening series of the season throughout the league. Mark Newman of MLB.com writes, "All players, managers, coaches, umpires and on-field personnel will wear a symbolic ribbon patch, and there will be a pregame moment of silence."
Despite having a no-trade clause in his contract, Vernon Wells has agreed to let the Angels trade him to the Yankees. It is being reported that the Angels will pay approximately $29 million of the remainder of Wells' $42 million contract.