Hammel makes a case

If the job is still open, if the competition for the fifth spot in the rotation has yet to be determined as Rays manager Joe Maddon continues to say, than Jason Hammel made a strong push toward earning that final spot in the rotation Saturday when he shutout the Reds for five innings at Charlotte Sports Park.

Hammel, who made five starters for the Rays last season, rebounded nicely from his previous start when he allowed four runs on six hits and walked five in four innings against the Pirates.

“I just went back to the aggressive approach that I was using early in camp,” Hammel said. “It was basically just attack. I wasn’t going to walk guys today. The one walk to Willy (Taveras) was pretty close.”

Taveres drew a full count walk to start the game. Hammel helped himself out of the potential jam by picking Taveras off first.

Maddon was pleased with Hammel’s effort.

“Good command of his fastball. Kept it down. Got ground balls,” Maddon said. “The thing I liked able to throw his off-speed pitches for strikes when he’s behind in the count.”

Maddon also liked the pick-off of Taveras. It showed Hammel could control the running game, something he struggled with during his long afternoon against the Pirates.

Jeff Nieman, the other candidate for the fifth spot, pitches Monday. Maddon said he will announce his decision after Niemann pitches.

Hammel and Niemann are locker neighbors in the Rays clubhouse. Hammel said they encourage each other. That’s easy to do when the runner-up heads to the bullpen as the long man.

“He and I are cheering each other on,” Hammel said. “He had a great outing. Both of us have something great to offer this team. Whoever gets it is going to help us win some ballgames.”

But Hammel knows which direction he wants to go. To the rotation.

“That’s what I told them last year,” Hammel said. “I’m going to go out there and win games for you, if you give it to me. Let’s hope they have that confidence in me.”

Izzy to go back-to-back
Jason Isringhausen pitched an inning against the Reds on Saturday and will do it again against the Reds on Sunday in Sarasota.

The right-hander, who signed a minor league contract during the first week of camp, allowed two runs on three hits during the sixth inning Sunday and took the loss in the Reds 5-1 victory.

Pitching in back-to-back games is a big step for Isrignhausen, who had surgery on his right arm last September.

“I want to see what he looks like two days in a row,” Maddon said. “With guys like him, you want to make sure he’s healthy enough to do things like that.”

Isringhausen said his arm is healthy. The two-run single by Jay Bruce came on a 1-2 pitch. Isringhausen wanted to bounce a curveball and get Bruce to chase the pitch, but he left the ball up.

“That hit with the bases loaded 1-2 pitch was supposed to be a curveball in the dirt and I left it for a strike,” Isrignhausen said. “I threw some good sinkers in on guys and threw some good cutters. What are you going to do on the hit and run? I was pitching like I tried to during the season. I just didn’t bounce it.”

Upton UpdateCenter fielder B.J. Upton continued his comeback from offseason shoulder surgery Saturday when he played five innings in a minor league game. He was 1-for-3 with a single and walk. Upton played all five innings in the outfield.

Matchups for Boston
The Red Sox announced their rotation through the season-opening three-game series with the Rays.

Josh Beckett will face James Shields in the opener April 6.

A pair of lefties will hook up April 8: Scott Kazmir and Jon Lester.

The third game will feature a match-up between Matt Garza and Daisuke Matsuzaka.

NOTEWORTHY
Pat Burrell fielded some grounders at first base before Saturday’s batting practice. Maddon said the designated hitter might see time there during the season … With two hits in three at-bats Saturday, Dioner Navarro raised his spring average to .381 … Gabe Gross is batting .324 … Joe Nelson and J.P. Howell both allowed home runs.