PORT CHARLOTTE (620 WDAE) -- Jake Bauers hit his third home run of the spring, but it wsas a big blast from Brain Dozier that proved to be the difference, sending the Rays to a 4-2 defeat at the hands of the Minnesota Twins.
Dozier's blast, off reliever Diego Moreno, came after starter Erasmo Ramirez allowed a pair to reach to start the third inning on a walk to Drew Stubbs and an error by Ramirez trying to field a Byron Buxton grounder, making the game 4-0 at that point. Ramirez had allowed a solo homer to Jorge Polanco in the previous inning.
Tampa Bay did not get on the scoreboard until the sixth inning, when Mallex Smith manufactured a run thanks to a bunt single, a steal of second base and forcing an error on a pickoff throw, coming home on a groundout by Rickie Weeks Jr.
Bauers made the score at 4-2 an inning later, blasting another baseball on to the roof of the administration building beyond the boardwalk in right, but the Rays would get no closer, though they did get the winning run to the plate with two away in the ninth, but saw Daniel Robertson strike out to end the game.
Tampa Bay heads back to the Tampa Bay region for a matchup against the Toronto Blue Jays, with Chase Whitley getting the start against Mat Latos. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05, with coverage on WDAE starting at 12:30 with Countdown to Opening Day.