Tampa Bay Rays vs. Boston Red Sox: Game Recap Feb. 24

The Tampa Bay Rays hosted the Boston Red Sox in Port Charlotte for the third game of the spring.

Port Charlotte, FLA- The Tampa Bay Rays hosted the Red Sox in their second tilt with the division foes this spring.

Key Notes

• Austin Meadows was a late scratch for personal reasons. We don’t know any more details at this time.
• Manuel Margot filled in for him in left field and at the leadoff spot. He doubled, singled, and walked in his three plate appearances.
• Yonny Chirinos struck out three in his one inning of work. He also allowed two hits and one earned run. Catcher, Chris Herrmann said Chirinos’ split-finger fastball was “moving all over the place.”  Herrmann also mentioned in the interview that he’s faced Charlie Morton as a hitter in the past and he never wants to see that curveball again, unless he’s behind the plate.
• Aaron Loup made his spring debut in a 1-2-3 inning against all righties.
• Nick Anderson struck out two in a 1-2-3 inning.
• Yoshitomo Tsutsugo continued his auspicious start to his major league career with a fourth-inning home run to the opposite field.
• Key Points from the interview with Kevin Cash:
  “Nick Anderson was the best reliever in baseball.”
• Cash also said he believes Ryan Yarbrough and Yonny Chirinos make up the Rays’ “big five.” He didn’t name them starters but did say they are both “deserving of all the conversation.”
• Cash named Chris Herrmann, Kevan Smith, and Michael Perez as the three names competing for the backup catching job behind the starter, Mike Zunino.
• Nate Lowe took over for Yandy Diaz at third base in the sixth inning. This is Lowe’s second appearance at third this spring.
• Rays’ pitchers combined for 15 strikeouts.

The game ended in a two-two tie.