Bats Come Alive As Rays Wallop Blue Jays

PORT CHARLOTTE (620 WDAE) -- Erasmo Ramirez worked two no-hit innings, Evan Longoria hit his first spring home run, Casey Gillaspie homered from each side of the plate, and prospect Jake Bauers hit a two-run homer as the Tampa Bay Rays snapped a four-game Grapefruit League losing skid defeating the Toronto Blue Jays 8-2 Sunday at Charlotte Sports Park

After Luke Maile reached on an error by Lourdes Gurriel with one out in the second inning, Bauers unloaded on Toronto starter Ryan Borucki in the bottom of the second inning, blasting the ball on to the roof of the offices beyond the right-field boardwalk.

Ramirez worked two hitless frames, walking just one, and getting an incredible play from Kevin Kiermaier in the first inning to ensure the game remained scoreless.

Reliever David Carpenter allowed a pair of runs in the top of the fifth to tie the game, but Longoria led off the bottom of the sixth with a shot on to the berm beyond the left-field foul pole to break the tie and give Tampa Bay the lead for good.

Gillaspie's two-run homer from the right side began a four-run rally in the seventh, with Ryan Brett delivering an RBI single and Willy Adames working a bases loaded walk.

The former first round then turned around an inning later and connected from the left side to set the score at 8-2.

The Rays next head back to Fort Myers, this time to take on the Minnesota Twins at Hammond Stadium.  Jose De Leon is scheduled to make the start, taking on Justin Haley.  First pitch is scheduled for 1:05.


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