Archer Perfect, But Orioles Blank Rays

PORT CHARLOTTE (620 WDAE) -- If you're heading to the World Baseball Classic, you'd want to have a final tuneup like the one Chris Archer had Saturday.

The Rays likely Opening Day starter threw three perfect frames, but the Baltimore Orioles manufactured the only run of the game, shutting out Tampa Bay 1-0 at Charlotte Sports Park.

Archer threw 49 pitches on ther afternoon, 30 for strikes, and struck out five of the nine total batters he faced.

Tampa Bay had four of the seven hits on the afternoon, but two came in the first inning off Orioles starter Ubaldo Jimenez.

Baltimore's run came in the seventh off left-hander Blake Snell, who allowed a ground rule double to Chris Johnson to start the inning.  Pinch-runner Joey Rickard took third on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI ground ball off the bat of Logan Schafer.

Alex Cobb will get the start Sunday, as Tampa Bay (5-3-1) next heads to Dunedin for a matchup against the Toronto Blue Jays, who will send Marcus Stroman to the hill.  First pitch is scheduled for 1:05, with coverage on WDAE starting at 12:30 with Countdown to Opening Day.


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