Devil Rays 7, Red Sox 2
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. --The Tampa Bay Devil Rays used aggressive base-running to beat the Boston Red Sox 7-2 on Thursday.
The Devil Rays stole three bases to lift their spring training total to 35, more than twice as many as any other team in the major leagues.
Rookie manager Joe Maddon said the Devil Rays are free to run, and getting thrown out isn't important.
"It's part of the strategy of this team," Maddon said. "Our strength is going to be speed, and I want them to see what we can do."
Even though two Devil Rays were picked off and Damon Hollins was caught stealing, Maddon said he had no problems with it.
"I want to see our guys get picked off and thrown out stealing," Maddon said. "I want them to see how much of a lead they can take off first. I don't want them running stupid, and things will be a little less reckless when the season starts. But I want them to know what they can do in every situation."
The Red Sox opened the scoring with a run in the first. Coco Crisp opened the inning with a single and was moved over on a single by Tony Graffanino. Crisp then scored on a force out.
Mark Hendrickson made his first start of the spring for the Devil Rays. He pitched two innings and allowed four hits and one earned run. Hendrickson has been hampered by a bone contusion on his right thigh and is caught in a logjam for three of the final spots in the starting rotation.
He said he struggled with his stamina.
"I felt tired, but I need to build up," Hendrickson said. "I'm just trying to build my stamina. I'll be able to get up to 100 pitches by opening day."
The Devil Rays scored two runs in each of the first two innings to take a 4-1 lead. Jon Lester allowed all four runs in his two innings on four hits and three walks.
Doug Waechter pitched three innings for the Devil Rays and allowed his first earned run of the spring in nine innings. He allowed two hits and walked three.
Right-handed pitcher Shinji Mori, suffering from right shoulder soreness, will pitch in the bullpen Friday for the fourth time since the injury. He is expected to make his spring debut next week if Luis Rivas has surgery to repair the knuckle on his right index finger. Rivas is out six-to-eight weeks.
