Riggans, Birkins hurt against Braves

ROGER MOONEY
rmooney@bradenton.com

TAMPA – If you were a Tampa Bay Rays trainer you had a bust Saturday.
Catcher Shawn Riggans bruised the fifth metacarpal in his left hand after being struck by a pitch in the ninth of the Rays 11-10 split-squad victory against the Braves at Disney’s Wide World of Sports.
The ball was heading toward Riggans face, and he blocked it with his hand.
Riggans was expected to have the hand X-rayed when the team returned to Al Lang Field.
Rays pitcher Kurt Birkins left the game with tightness in his left bicep.
Scott Kazmir was scratched from Sunday’s start against Detroit because the Rays want to build arm strength in his left arm.
Left fielder Carl Crawford was giving Saturday off after experience tightness in his legs, which Rays manager Joe Maddon said was a result of playing on a soggy field Friday.

Niemann improving
Jeff Niemann could be making a case for one of the two spots in the rotation, thought that could still be a long shot.
Still, he pitched a solid four innings against the Yankees on Saturday at Legends Field, where he allowed six hits and a run.
“I think things have gone pretty well,” Niemann said of his spring. “I’ve gotten better each time out.”
Maddon liked what he saw from the 6-foot-9 rookie.
“He kept the ball down like we asked him to,” Maddon said. “His breaking ball was really sharp. He pounded the zone for strikes. I thought he pitched pretty well.”
So, an he pitch his way on the team?
“I can’t say yes or no at this point,” Maddon said. “Yes he can. I like what he did (Saturday). We talked about keeping the ball down instead of just throwing strikes, and that’s what he did. His fastball, they had to dig it out. Even the ball that Alex Rodriguez hit over the center fielder’s head, that ball was really down.”

Long ball
The Rays hit five home runs Saturday, naturally, because they were playing on the road.
Eric Hinske, Chris Richard, Hector Gimenez and Mike DiFelice each homered against the Yankees at Legends Field.
Carlos Pena homered off John Smoltz at Disney’s Wide World of Sports.
The Rays now have 18 home runs this spring.

Hammel blanks Braves
Jason Hammel, one of four starters vying for a spot in the back of the rotation, pitched five shutout innings against the Braves. He allowed three hits, walked two and struck out three.
It was a nice rebound from his previous outing when Hammel allowed nine earned runs.
Not much relieve
The Rays blew a 10-3, eighth inning lead against the Braves. Calvin Medlock allowed five runs. Scott Dohmann also allowed three runs in his two innings.

Today’s action
James Shields, who looks to be the Opening Day starter, will start today against visiting Detroit. Dontrelle Willis is the Tigers scheduled starter. Former Ray Bobby Seay is expected to pitch for the Tigers.

This & That
Those looking for fireworks from the Rays were at the wrong place if they attended the split-squad game against the Yankees in Tampa. The action was in Disney against the Braves, where four Rays were hit during a 12-batter stretch … The Rays have 12 wins, the most in the American League … Gary Glover threw two scoreless innings against the Yankees. Dan Wheeler allowed an unearned run in his inning. Scott Munter allowed a hit and struck out one during his two innings.