Norfolk Tides (Orioles) 7, Durham Bulls 5

The game did not start off well for Durham, as Jason Pridie led off the game with a home run for the Tides. Norfolk scored another run in the first to go ahead 2-0 before the Bulls got to bat. After Durham got a run back in the bottom of the inning, the Tides scored twice more in the top of the second. An error by J.D. Martin caused the inning to be extended, leading to a two run double off the bat of Danny Valencia. Jonathan Schoop homered in the third to put the Tides ahead 5-1, but the Bulls fought back. Leslie Anderson hit his third home run of the year, plating Hak-Ju Lee to cut the lead to two. However, the Tides scored again in the fourth and sixth innings, jumping back out to a four run lead. Once again, Durham fought back, as Lee hit a two run single in the bottom of the sixth to pull the Bulls back within two. Unfortunately, the Bulls were unable to threaten afterwards, and lost 7-5. Martin took the loss, giving up six runs, three earned, in four innings. He allowed eight hits, and two home runs, while striking out three. Anderson was 2-5 with his home run. Lee was 3-5 with a double, a run scored, two RBIs, and a stolen base.

Montgomery Biscuits 5, Jackson Generals (Mariners) 4 (Game 1 – seven innings)

The Biscuits and the Generals faced off in the first game of the doubleheader, in a makeup game for the postponed matchup on Thursday. Cameron Seitzer kicked off the scoring for the Biscuits in the first, as his RBI single plated Sean O’Malley. Montgomery expanded the lead in the second, using a pair of RBI doubles from Robi Estrada and Mikie Mahtook to take an early 5-0 lead. However, the Generals climbed back into the game, using three consecutive singles to plate their first run in the bottom of the second. Jackson got wo more back in the sixth, as they put runners on second and third with no one out. A pair of RBI groundouts cut the lead to 5-3. The Generals had a chance to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh against Biscuits closer Juan Sandoval, as they had runners on first and third with one out. John Hicks doubled to center, plating a run, but the Generals hopes of tying the game were dashed when Abraham Almonte was gunned down at the plate. Marcus Fleming picked up the win, allowing one hit and two walks in 3.1 innings of relief. Riccio Torrez was 2-3 with a double and a run scored.

Jackson Generals 4, Montgomery Biscuits 2 (Game 2 – seven innings)

The second game was essentially the opposite of the first, as the game remained scoreless through the first two and a half innings. Jackson jumped out in the bottom of the third, with Brad Miller and Vinnie Catricala hitting back to back RBI doubles, and James Jones following up with an RBI triple. Miller hit a solo home run in the fifth, as the Generals took a 4-0 lead into the top of the seventh. The Biscuits loaded the bases with one out, and Sean O’Malley singled to center, plating a run. Witht he bases still loaded, Ty Morrison struck out, but a passed ball allowed the runners to advance, as the Biscuits cut the lead to 4-2. Robbie Price was hit by a pitch to reload the bases, but Mikie Mahtook struck out to end the threat. Merrill Kelly took the loss, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks, while striking out four. O’Malley was 2-3 with a double and an RBI.

Fort Myers Miracle (Twins) 6, Charlotte Stone Crabs 4

Heading into the action last night, the Miracle had yet to lose on the season, and the Stone Crabs were aiming to end their winning streak. However, the Miracle continued their winning ways, coming away with a 6-4 victory. Fort Myers scored first, as Eddie Rosario singled, took second on a wild pitch, and moved to third with two outs before scoring on Matt Koch‘s infield hit. The Stone Crabs tied the game in the bottom of the fifth, as Kyeong Kang scored on a double off the bat of Jake Hager. The Miracle loaded the bases with two out in the top of the sixth, as Angel Morales came to bat. His double cleared the bases, and Morales came around to score on a double by Rosario. The Stone Crabs got one of the runs back in the bottom of the inning, as Drew Vettleson tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly. The Miracle and Stone Crabs traded runs, as Charlotte found themselves down by three heading into the bottom of the ninth. Kang doubled with one out, and scored on a two out single by Taylor Motter. However, the Stone Crabs were unable to get any closer, as they lost 6-4. Jake Floethe took the loss in relief, giving up five runs on five hits and two walks in 3.2 innings. Kang continued to wing a hot bat, going 2-2 with a double, two runs scored and two walks. He is presently hitting .412 on the season thus far.

Bowling Green Hot Rods 4, West Michigan Whitecaps (Tigers) 3 (Game 1 – seven innings)

The Biscuits were not the only Rays minor league affiliate to play a double header last night, as the Hot Rods and Whitecaps also played two. Bowling Green scored first, using back to back doubles by Joey Rickard and Tyler Goeddel to lead off the game. Goeddel stole third with no outs, but was unable to score as the Whitecaps managed to escape further damage that inning. However, they were able to get another run as Ryan Dunn singled, moved to third on an error, and scored on Geoff Rowan‘s RBI single. The Hot Rods took advantage of more sloppy play by West Michigan in the fourth, as Justin O’Conner singled, and took second on a fielder’s choice. A wild pitch moved him to third, and O’Conner scored on an RBI single by Marty Gantt. The Whitecaps got on the board in the top of the sixth, as Devon Travis hit a solo home run to cut the lead to 3-1. Bennett Pickar and Jared Reaves had back to back one out singles in the top of the seventh, and moved to second and third after a sacrifice bunt. Danry Vasquez singled to left, plating both runners and tying the game. However, the Hot Rods were not about to concede, as they loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the inning. Andrew Toles singled, plating Rowan with the winning run in the 4-3 victory. Dylan Floro got a no decision in an excellent start, as he pitched five shutout innings and allowed only one hit and a walk while recording four strikeouts. Despite not being able to close out the game, Jose Molina picked up the win, giving up all three runs in two innings on four hits and a walk. Rickard and Rowan each had two hits in the victory.

Bowling Green Hot Rods 3, West Michigan Whitecaps 2 (Game 2 – seven innings)

The Whitecaps took advantage of a two out error by Patrick Leonard, as his miscue Devon Travis on second. Jeff Holm made Hot Rods pay for the mistake, as his RBI single plated Travis to give West Michigan an early 1-0 lead. that score held up until the bottom of the third, when Joey Rickard reached on an error. Following a base hit, Andrew Toles tripled to right, plating both runners and putting the Hot Rods ahead 2-1. After an infield hit and an out, Toles scored on a sacrifice fly by Luke Maile to put Bowling Green ahead 3-1. Travis homered for the second consecutive game in the top of the fifth, cutting the lead to 3-2; however, the Whitecaps were unable to threaten any further, as the Hot Rods swept both ends of the double header. Shay Crawford picked up the victory, pitching a perfect inning of relief while striking out two batters. Maile was 2-2 with an RBI.

Matt Moore entered Saturday having struggled all spring and in need of a breakthrough performance, managing just a 4.67 ERA and a 15-13 strikeout to walk ratio in 17.1 innings pitched. Against the Tigers, he did exactly that. Moore went 4 innings allowing just 1 hit, striking out 5 while walking only 1. He threw just 54 pitches, 37 strikes, and needed only 29 pitches to dispose of the Tigers over his final three innings of work. Something finally clicked and hitters couldn’t stand a chance. Moore will be facing huge responsibility this season as he’s lined up to be the Rays’ 3rd starter, and he showed in this outing exactly why the Rays believe he can not only fill the role but provide them with significantly more.

The Rays offense in this game came from a trio of home runs from their infielders: James Loney in the 5th, Ryan Roberts in the 6th, and Sean Rodriguez in the 7th. The former two hit their home runs off of formidable Tigers starter Doug Fister, and Loney and Rodriguez both had themselves nice days, going 2 for 3 with their big home run. Kelly Johnson also had a double to cap his strong finish to the spring. The 3 runs would only be enough to come away with a tie in this one, but the Rays’ major league players went an outstanding 9 for 28 (.321) against a tough pitcher and Joe Maddon had to be pleased by the way his offense performed in their last exhibition.

After Moore’s sparkling outing, five relievers finished the game, with Jamey Wright, Kyle Farnsworth, Jake McGee, Joel Peralta, and Fernando Rodney each getting in an inning of work. Wright allowed a pair of runs on a Brayan Pena homer on he pitch Maddon described as an “experiment that failed” before a misplay by a rookie ball outfielder led to McGee letting a run across in the 7th. Overall, everyone looked good, with McGee especially impressing as he touched 96 MPH with his fastball, and the Rays are excited for what should be a sparkling bullpen once again.

Always want to win and nobody likes a tie, but the Rays will certainly take the “glass half-full” approach with this one as they take its positives into the start of the regular season. Moore delivered an outing that could drive him to even greater heights, Loney and Rodriguez looked great at the plate, and the bullpen looked good in finishing off the game as no one emerged victorious but both teams walked off thrilled with how talented their team is and eagerly anticipating the season to finally get underway.

Hellickson capped off his struggles this spring by getting hammered by the Detroit Tigers in an 8-3 loss on Friday afternoon. In three innings of work, Hellickson gave up eight runs, six of which were earned, on seven hits and two walks. He also gave up home runs to Prince Fielder, Alex Avila and Omar Infante in his time on the mound. This outing brought his Grapefruit League ERA to 6.75, yet Maddon is looking at more than his performance.

“He’s healthy, he’s fine and that’s all that matters,” Maddon said. “He’ll be ready when it comes time to make his first start.”

The Rays got all three of their runs in the eighth. Sam Fuld hit a two run home run off octovio Dotel, and James Harris Jr had an RBI single later in the inning, as the Rays got four of the six hits they had all game off Dotel in the inning.

Max Scherzer started for the Tigers and dominated the Rays lineup, allowing only one hit and two walks while striking out nine batters in his six innings of work.

The Rays finish up their Grapefruit League season later today, facing off against the Tigers once again before they head to Tampa.