PORT CHARLOTTE (620 WDAE) -- Tim Beckham's strong spring continued Wednesday night, as he doubled and clobbered a two-run homer, though Colombia came back for a 9-7 decision over the Tampa Bay Rays at Charlotte Sports Park.
Beckham led off the bottom of the first with a double to left and ended up scoring the first run of the game on a RBI double by Brad Miller.
Tampa Bay added four more runs on in the second, two coming on an infield hit by Mallex Smith coupled with a throwing error by Giovanny Urshela followed by Beckham's home run, his first of the spring.
Colombia cut the lead back to 5-2 thanks to solo homers from Tito Polo and Jorge Alfaro, but Steven Souza stretched the lead back to five runs with a two-run shot off former Rays reliever Ernesto Frieri in the bottom of the fifth.
The game turned into an intra-squad matchup of sorts, as Rays relievers Jeff Ames, Neil Wagner, and Diego Moreno each pitched for the Colombians to allow them to preserve their bullpen ahead of the World Baseball Classic.
Meanwhile, Dana Eveland struggled in the ninth, allowing six runs in just 2/3 of an inning to take the loss.
Tampa Bay will return to Grapefruit League action Thursday, when the Pittsburgh Pirayes come to Charlotte Sports Park to begin a home-and-home series. Blake Snell is scheduled to start the game, which will get started at 1:05.
Listen to comments from manager Kevin Cash, pitcher Chase Whitley and shortstop Tim Beckham below!