Rays blast Red Sox

By ROGER MOONEY
rmooney@bradenton.com
PORT CHARLOTTE — The first sell-out at Charlotte Sports Park saw the Rays pound the visiting Red Sox 12-4 on Friday.

A crowd of 6,626 watched the Rays build a 10-0 lead after three innings.

Evan Longoria hit a long home run, a two-run shot onto the boardwalk in left field, for the Rays first home run of the spring.

Elliot Johnson drove in two runs with a bases-loaded single and Fernando Perez doubled home two runs during the Rays five-run third inning.

Chris Richard put the finishing touches on the day with a long, two-run homer to the boardwalk in right field in the seventh inning.


Niemann looks good
Jeff Niemann, vying for the spot as the Rays fifth starter, allowed one hit in his two innings and struck out two.

The right-hander, who made two starts for the Rays last April, is competing with rookies David Price and Mitch Talbot, and veteran Jason Hammel for the last start in the rotation.

Niemann could also end up in the bullpen if he doesn’t make the rotation.

Cromer looks good, two
Left-hander Jason Cromer worked two innings for the Rays, striking out five of the seven batters he faced.

That pleased Rays manager Joe Maddon, who wants to see the younger pitchers throw strikes.

Cromer spent last season with the Rays Double A team in Montgomery.

Injury updates
Maddon does not known when closer Troy Percival will make his first appearance in a spring training game. Both Maddon and Percival feel Percival is coming along fine after having back surgery last November.

“If everything goes well, we’ll get him out there by the middle of March,” Maddon said. “He doesn’t need that many times on the mound to be ready for the season. If we could get him out there five or six times prior to the season, that would be normal for him. Anything after that would be kind of like gravy. So he’s coming along well. He feels great.”

First baseman Carlos Pena, who had surgery in early January to repair two small tears in his lower abdomen, will not play until after the Rays first off-day, which is March 5.