Kaz hits as well as he pitches

By ROGER MOONEY
rmooney@bradenton.com
SARASOTA — Joe Maddon was given the option after Sunday’s 11-2 win against the Reds at Ed Smith Stadium to talk about Scott Kazmir the pitcher or Scott Kazmir the hitter.

The Rays manager went with Kazmir the pitcher.

“I thought it was very, very good,” Maddon said.

Kazmir went a spring-high six innings, allowing two runs on four hits. He struck out a spring-high five.

The two runs came on an infield single and a two-run homer by Jay Bruce. Three of the four hits Kazmir allowed were infield singles.

Kazmir said he worked on his mechanics during his last bullpen session and was conscious Sunday of keeping his head still as he threw the ball.

“I can see an improvement,” Kazmir said.

So did Maddon.

“That’s what we’re talking about,” Maddon said. “Great repetition of his delivery. Quality strikes down in the zone with his fastball. Sharpest slider I’ve seen in the long time, and the change-up was there, too. Just in control of his body, and thus the pitches were in the right spot. He looked very good.”

Kazmir will start Saturday’s exhibition game in Philadelphia, which will be his final tune-up before pitching the second game of the season April 8 in Boston.

“My arm feels incredible,” he said.

Now, for his hitting.

Kazmir was 2-for-3 with a two-run double and an RBI single.

“His hitting was not bad, either,” Maddon said.

Using one of B.J. Upton’s bats, Kazmir lifted a fly ball to the opposite field in the fourth inning that drifted over the head of Reds left fielder Chris Dickerson and scored a pair of runs in the Rays eight-run inning.

“I didn’t know what to do when I hit that ball,” Kazmir said.

He singled softly up the middle to drive in one of the two runs the Rays scored in the fifth inning.

Joyce impresses
Matt Joyce played center field and two hits in four at-bats, including a two-run double in the Rays eight-run fourth inning.

Thought Joyce didn’t start playing in games until March 22 due to tendinitis in his right calf, he has impressed Maddon with his approach at the plate.

“He looked good,” Maddon said. “The 0-2 line drive to center field (for the double) was really nice. They tried to elevate on him and he got on top of that ball. He pulled the ball in the hole with the first baseman holding the runner on. I like that stuff. I think he’s going to be a very good major league hitter.”

Maddon said there is still a chance Joyce could make the Opening Day roster.

Izzy back for more
Jason Isringhousen pitched in back-to-back games for the first time this season. He struck out a batter and didn’t allow a hit.

“I thought he was strong (Sunday) than (Saturday),” Maddon said.

Taking the fifth
Jeff Niemann will pitch in a Triple A game Monday at the Rays complex. Maddon is not ready to announce his fifth starter — Niemann or Jason Hammel — and might not do so until the end of the week.

NOTEWORTHY
Joe Nelson pitched a perfect eighth inning ... Shawn Riggans batted cleanup, which tells you more about the players the Rays took to Sarasota than Riggans. Still, the catcher had three hits in five at-bats and doubled home a run ... Adam Kennedy played second and had three hits in four at-bats ... Gabe Kapler had two hits, rasing his average from .116 to .146.