Spring Training 2014: Grand Slam Lifts Rays Over Jays

In a Spring Training outing, the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the visiting Toronto Blue Jays 6-3 in a split-squad game yesterday, with the big blow being a grand slam. The Rays simultaneously also had a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Bradenton, in which they prevailed 6-3.

The Jays took a 2-0 lead into the second inning, but right fielder Mikie Mahtook homered with the bases loaded in the bottom of the frame off of Blue Jays starter Sean Nolin to give Tampa a 5-2 advantage. Nolin, who was assessed with the loss, was unable to get out of the inning, during which he allowed five hits.

Journeyman Erik Bedard, who got the win, allowed three runs and on six hits over 4-1/3 innings for the Rays. Four Tampa Bay relievers, including new closer Grant Balfour, held the Jays hitless for the rest of the game. Bedard is attempting to make the Rays regular season rotation as the fifth starter.

Blue Jays stars Jose Bautista and Jose Reyes were out of the lineup for the game at the Rays Spring Training facility at Charlotte Sports Park in Port Charlotte Fla. In the Grapefruit League, it’s quite common for established players -– who usually play limited innings anyway — to not make all the road trips.

Tampa superstar third baseman Evan Longoria had two hits and one RBI in the game that was witnessed by about 5,500 fans at the Rays training facility.

The Rays went 92-71 last year, second place in the American League East. After beating the Texas Rangers in a tiebreaker game, they defeated the Cleveland Indians in the Wild Card game but lost the American League Division Series to the eventual World Series champion Boston Red Sox. Despite the addition of Reyes, Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey and others, Toronto underperformed in 2013, finishing in last place in the AL East with a 74-88 record.

Going into today’s Spring Training action, the Rays have a 10-4 record (6-2 at home), while the Jays are 6-10, with a record of 3-4 in away games.