Aybar back from WBC sooner than expected

By ROGER MOONEY
rmooney@bradenton.com
PORT CHARLOTTE — Willy Aybar returned to the Rays clubhouse early Thursday morning a lot sooner than he expected when he left March 1 to join the Dominican Republic team for the World Baseball Classic.

“Never,” Aybar said through an interpreter when asked if he expected to be back so soon.

The Dominican Republic was eliminated Tuesday night then they lost 2-1 in 11 innings to the Netherlands. It was the second time the powerful Dominican team lost to the upstart Netherlands.

“Great sadness,” Aybar said. “We lost to a team that no one imagined would be there now.”

Aybar, who played first base because Albert Pujols and Carlos Pena could not play because they were coming off surgeries, said he enjoyed the experience of playing with some of the top players in the major leagues — David Ortiz, Jose Reyes — but was upset it went so quick.

“We were very confident we (could win the WBC),” Aybar said. “But the team didn’t hit like we thought we would.”

Aybar was asked if he knew what the fans back in the Dominican Republic were feeling.
“They probably feel more anger than anything,” he said. “None of them expected us to be out this early.”

Balfour returns
Rays reliever Grant Balfour returned to the mound Thursday for the first time since being struck on the inside of his right forearm with a line drive against the Red Sox on Saturday.

He entered the game in the seventh and found himself in trouble when he allowed a leadoff single to Miguel Cairo and walked the next two batters. A sacrifice fly by Ryan Howard scored Cairo. Balfour then got Geoff Jenkins to strike out before walking Greg Dobbs. He was replaced by Randy Choate, who got a force-out to end the inning.

Balfour said his arm felt fine.

“I felt like I missed (the strike zone) a few times,” Balfour said. “But when I did, I didn’t miss by much.”

Rays manager Joe Maddon agreed, saying home plate umpire Sam Holbrook said Balfour didn’t miss by much.

Maddon also added that Balfour was told to work on his curve ball and that’s what he was doing.

Shields shines
James Shields made his second start of the spring and breezed through four innings.

The Rays Opening Day starter allowed one hit and a walk and struck out three. He struck out three of the first four batters he faced, including Howard leading off the second inning.

Fish with a Ray
Former Ray reliever Doug Creek is organizing a charity fishing trip for March 24. Two anglers will have the opportunity to join one Rays player on a charter boat and will fish Charlotte Harbor.

Entry fee is $2,000 for two fishermen. There will be a breakfast, a silent auction and an awards dinner.

The breakfast is at 8:30 a.m. The boats will leave at 10 a.m.

Proceeds will benefit Good Shepherd Day School in Punta Gorda.

For more information, call Creek at 727-644-022 or e-mail him at doug@dougcreek.com.

The race for No. 5
Carlos Hernandez, one of five pitchers competing for the final spot in the rotation, makes his fourth appearance and third start of the spring today against the Blue Jays in Dunedin.

The left-hander 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in eight innings.

He is competing with Jason Hammel, who is also scheduled to pitch, Jeff Niemann, David Price and Mitch Talbot.

Maddon is about two weeks or so from naming his fifth starter.

“We’ll name the fifth starter by the end of camp more than likely,” Maddon said. “We want that person to get ready (for the season).”

NOTEWORTHY
Joe Nelson, who saved a Grapefruit League-high seven games for the Marlins last spring, earned his first save this spring when he worked the ninth inning of the rays 3-2 victory against the visiting Phillies. Nelson allowed a home run to Andy Tracy, a left-handed hitting first baseman, that landed on the boardwalk in right field. Nelson has allowed a home run in each of his three appearances ... Gabe Kapler hit his first home run of the spring ... Outfielder Ray Sadler had another hit, although this one stayed in the yard. Sadler, who has hit one home run into the lake beyond the left field fence and another over the boardwalk in left-center field, singled in his lone at-bat and raised his batting average to .350 ... Pat Burrell, trying to make the adjustment from full-time left fielder to full-time designated hitter, is batting .333 ... Carl Crawford hit his first double of the spring, pulling a pitch from Jamie Moyer down the right field line in the first inning. Crawford then stole third for his first stolen base of the season.