In race for Rays' rotation, it's three for two

Three pitchers competing for the final two spots in the rotation – Edwin Jackson, Jason Hammel and Andy Sonnanstine – each pitched Friday in the Rays spring training opener against the Reds in Sarasota.

Jackson started, allowed one hit and struck out two.

Hammel followed and was touched for a pair of runs in his two innings. He also walked two.

Sonnanstine worked a perfect inning.

Rays manager Joe Maddon said the key to earning a spot in the rotation is throwing strikes. Jackson and Sonnanstine did that.

“Hammel was just a little off,” Maddon said.

A win for the hometown lad

About the only thing that went wrong for James Houser was a flat tire on his jeep, which he parked in the players parking lot beyond Ed Smith Stadium.

Houser, whose 50-game suspension for violating minor league baseball’s drug policy last season, ended prematurely when he was added to the Rays major league 40-man roster, pitched the eighth inning. He entered with the bases loaded and no out, allowed a run scoring single but nothing else.

The Sarasota High grad got the victory when the Rays scored one in the ninth.

“He gave up the hit to center, but otherwise he did a really nice job after a really difficult moment,” Maddon said. “We talked about him the other day. He came in that intrasquad game, I thought he had nice composure, and he showed it again (Friday). He made some nice pitches.”

Go, go, go; run, run, run

In the first inning of the Rays first spring training game they pulled off a double-steal.

Carl Crawford was on second and Carlos Pena was on first. They both took off, swiping third and second, respectively, off Reds starter Homer Bailey.

“I like the aggressiveness on the bases,” Maddon said. “One of our top priorities is to be considered the best base running team in either league, and I really want us to get to that point.”

Longoria’s stick

Evan Longoria swung the bat well in his two at-bats.

He lined out to center fielder Ken Griffey, Jr., in his first at-bat, then smoked a ball off the left-center field fence to drive in the Rays first run of the game in a three-run fourth.

The double was more impressive considering the strong breeze that was blowing in from the outfield.

“If the wind is not blowing in, that ball is out of here,” Maddon said. “He crushed that.”

McGee struggles

Jake McGee started the eighth inning and allowed two hits and three walks. One of those walks forced in a run.

“If he gets by that first hitter, that 1-2 breaking ball, if he doesn’t hang that I think he’s OK,” Maddon said. “He threw the ball great.”

His troubles started when Jay Bruce dropped lined that 1-2 breaking ball in front of Fernando Perez in center field.

“Boom, he lost the plate a little bit,” Maddon said. “But his velocity was real good. Just one of those first time things. He’s fine.”

Mason earns the save

After allowing a pair of singled to start the bottom of the ninth, rookie Chris Mason retired the next three batters for the save.

He helped himself off by bouncing off the mound to field a bunt and throwing the lead runner out at third. Then, after a bouncer to first moved the runners up, Mason got Drew Anderson to line out to right field to end the game.

Blue is you

The Rays played their first game in their new blue uniforms, wearing dark blue jerseys and gray pants. They won, too.

“I’m basically the same guy. It has to be the uniform,” Maddon said.

Price update

Maddon did not have a timetable for when David Price will return to the mound.

The top pick in last June’s draft felt tightness in his left shoulder while warming up before his scheduled one-inning in Wednesday’s intrasquad game.

“He felt better (Friday),” Maddon said. “With that, we’ll get to the point of getting him back on the mound before we get him back in the game.”

Coming Saturday

James Shields makes his spring debut Saturday against Toronto as the Rays play their first game at Al Lang Field. Dustin McGowan will start for the Blue Jays.

Former Ray Lance Carter of Bradenton is not scheduled to pitch for the Jays.

Coming Sunday

Jeff Neimann will start for Tampa Bay against the Pirates in the Rays only appearance at McKechnie Field. Paul Maholm is the scheduled to start for the Pirates.

Quote of the day

“That’s just for show, the interpreter. He speaks fine.” Shortstop Jason Bartlett on communicating with Japanese second baseman Akinori Iwamura.

- Roger Mooney, Herald Staff Writer