Rays Drop Final Night Game Of Spring

SARASOTA (620 WDAE) -- Chris Archer's scoreless run during the spring came to an end, as the Baltimore Orioles touched him up for four runs, but it was Chance Sisco's three-run homer off reliever Andrew Kittredge that broke a 4-4 tie as the Tampa Bay Rays fell 7-4 Wednesday night at Ed Smith Stadium.

Tampa Bay jumped on Orioles starter Chris Lee in the first inning, as a walk to Kevin kiermaier and double by Evan Longoria led to back-to-back RBI singles by Brad Miller and Colby Rasmus gave the Rays a 2-0 lead.

After a perfect first inning, Archer ended up allowing his first run of the spring after 14 2/3 innings of zeroes.  Hyun-Soo Kim's RBI single plated Pedro Alvarez, who doubled two batters earlier.

Chris Johnson gave Baltimore the lead in the bottom of the fourth, delivering a two-run blast off Archer to straightaway center, putting the Orioles ahead 3-2.

The Rays rallied in the next half-inning as Brad Miller's base hit allowed Colby Rasmus to unload for his first home run of the spring, a two-run blast to left that again put Tampa Bay in front.

An RBI groundout by Chris Davis tied the game in the bottom of the fifth.

Archer pitched into the sixth inning, giving up five hits, walking two and striking out six.

The game remained even until the bottom of the eighth inning, when Kittredge allowed base hits to Joey Rickard and Paul Janish, and Cisco blasted a Kittredge offering into the seats in left to break the tie.

Daniel Robertson, who played all nine innings at shortstop on his 23rd birthday, finished with three hits, all singles, but Andrew Velazquez grounded out to end the game.

Tampa Bay returns to Charlotte Sports Park Thursday to welcome in the New York Yankees.  Austin Pruitt will get the start, taking on Jordan Montgomery.  First pitch is scheduled for 1:05.


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