Rays Use Long Ball To Beat Up Red Sox

PORT CHARLOTTE (WDAE) -- The Tampa Bay Rays blasted six home runs as part of a 15-hit barrage, beating up the Boston Red Sox 8-1 Sunday at Charlotte Sports Park.

The Rays scored in every inning from the second through the sixth inning, with Joey Wendle starting things with a solo blast off Rick Porcello, and Mike Zunino made it 2-0 an inning later. Guillermo Heredia hit the first of his two home runs on the afternoon, taking Hector Velazquez deep. Zunino added an RBI double and Ji-Man Choi a run-scoring single for a 5-0 lead.

Avisail Garcia made it 6-0 in the fifth on a titanic shot off Velazquez that ended up clearing the entire stadium, his second of the spring.

Heredia and Nate Lowe each homered in the sixth off Brandon Workman, giving Tampa Bay an 8-0 lead.

The Red Sox only run came in the seventh, as Aneury Tavarez doubled off Diego Castillo, and following a wild pitch, scored on a groundout by Steve Pearce.

Austin Pruitt, who relieved Casey Sadler with two out on the second, got the win after 1 1/3 innings of shutout relief. Emilio Pagan, Colin Poche, Tyler Cloyd, Jose Alvarado, and Ryne Stanek all worked scoreless relief outings.

Tampa Bay heads north for the next two days, beginning with Monday's matchup against the Philadelphia Phillies in Clearwater. Blake Snell is scheduled to make his third start of the spring, taking on Vince Velasquez. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05.


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