CC goes hard into home

ST. PETERSBURG – You don’t normally see a runner initiate contact with a catcher in spring training. You don’t normally see a catcher initiate contact, either.

Heck, the games don’t count but the injuries do.

That’s why it was a little surprising to see Carl Crawford lower his left shoulder into the chest of Houston catcher Humberto Quintero during the fourth inning of the Rays 8-4 loss Wednesday at Al Lang Field.

“I was just trying to score. I don’t want contact every day,” Crawford said.

Crawford was trying to score on B.J. Upton’s double to the center field wall. Cliff Floyd, the on-deck hitter, gave Crawford the signal to slide, but Upton’s bat was laying across home plate.

Crawford had no other choice but to go in standing up. And since Quintero was in the way, he forced the action.

“A bat was on the right side, and that’s where I was about to slide,” Crawford said. “He was kind of up the line, more so than where catchers usually stand. I really didn’t have too much of a choice.”

Jason Hammel, who worked the first three innings for the Rays, said he was excited to see a display of force this early in the season.

“Without a doubt. We’re here to win,” Hammel said. “That’s the bottom line.”
The ball sailed past Quintero, and Upton, who was heading to third on the throw home, came around to score.

Maddon said it was a difficult situation. Floyd could have picked up the bat, but if he tried, he could have been called for interference.

“The ball was there, the catcher was there. Carl was there, so everything was there,” Maddon said. “It was nice to see Carl go at the catcher hard. I liked it a lot. And on top of that, B.J. scored, so it was a good play.”

Big Ben goes to first
Ben Zobrist, the Opening Day shortstop last season, will have to wear many gloves and one mitt if he wants to make the Opening Day roster this season.

Maddon is looking at Zobrist as a super utility player this season, meaning Zobrist will play everywhere.

He debuted at first base Wednesday, moving across the diamond from shortstop to start the sixth inning.

How did he do?

“He needed a road map out there at times,” Maddon said.

Zobrist, who has played all four infield positions this spring, will debut in the outfield Thursday against the Phillies in Clearwater.

The move around the infield hasn’t hurt Zobrist at the plate.

He was 2-for-4 with a walk Wednesday to raise his average to .429.

The streak ends
The Rays lost for the first time this spring Wednesday, despite three errors by the Astros.

Scott Dohmann took the loss when he allowed four runs in the sixth. He wasn’t hit hard, and the defense could have been a little sharper. Throwing a wild pitch with a runner on third didn’t help, either.

Hammel looked sharp
Jason Hammel, a candidate for one of the final two spots in the rotation or a possible spot in the bullpen, allowed four hits and one earned run in his three innings.

He kept the ball down in the strike zone and didn’t let a throwing error by catcher Dioner Navarro in the first rattle him.

After allowing a one-out single to Jose Cruz Jr. Navarro tried to pick Cruz off first but threw the ball into right field, allowing Cruz to reach third. Hammel, though, got out of the inning by getting the next two batters to fly out. Unfortunately, the first fly ball scored Cruz.

Remember these guys?
There were four former Rays in the Astros starting lineup – designated hitter Jose Cruz Jr., second baseman Geoff Blum, third baseman Ty Wigginton and shortstop Tomas Perez.
They combined to go 7-for-17 with five runs scored, three doubles and three RBIs.

Wiggy was 2-for-2 with a pair of doubles.

Cruz was 3-for-5 with two RBI.

Baldelli update
Rocco Baldelli might play Thursday against the Phillies in Clearwater, though there is a chance he will rest his hamstrings until the Phillies come to St. Pete on Friday. Either way he will serve as the designated hitter.

Maddon isn’t sure when Baldelli will play right field.

“We’d like to do it, but I just don’t see an opportunity right now,” he said.

Price update
David Price (tightness in left shoulder) pitched a bullpen session Wednesday and is expected to throw one inning against the Yankees on Saturday in Tampa.

This & That
The Rays will use a DH against the Phillies on Thursday … B.J. Upton was 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and two RBIs on Wednesday to raise his average to .444 … Justin Ruggiano and Mike DiFelice both had doubles for the Rays … Reid Brignac returned to the lineup after breaking the small toe in his left foot when getting hit by a pitch in the intrasquad game. He was hitless in two at-bats, but started a nice double play in the eighth when he fielded a grounder on the short-hop and flipped the ball to Elliot Johnson at second … Johnson helped steal a run in the sixth when he stole third and scored on a double play grounder.

Roger Mooney, Herald Staff Writer

rmooney@bradenton.com