Sonny pleased with outing

LAKELAND - Andy Sonnanstine turned his longest outing of the spring when he pitched 4 1/3 innings in Thursday night’s 6-3 loss to the Tigers.

The Rays fourth starter allowed three earned runs (four total) on seven hits. He did not walk a batter and struck out four.

Sonnanstine faced the most of the Tigers regulars, a welcome departure from the minor leaguers has faced throughout much of the spring.

“Absolutely,” he said. “The last time I started was against minor leagues, so it’s good to face a major league squad with most of their guys to gage how you’re throwing.”

Sonnanstine mixed in a few change-ups – a pitch he has been working on this spring – including two in a row to one batter.

“I like that,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said.

Sonnanstine was disappointed with the pitches he left up in the strike zone in the fourth inning to Brandon Inge and Curtis Granderson, which became home runs. Same with the double to Miguel Cabrera.

“I’d say average pitches in below average locations,” Sonnanstine.

The right-hander said he is pleased with where he is at this point of the spring.

“Yes, very much so,” he said. “I’m ecstatic with the way my body is feeling right now. I just have to sharpen up a few pitches and we’ll be ready to go.”

Kennedy debuts in left
Adam Kennedy, playing left field for the first time this spring, looked a little shaky on several line drives hit his way.

“Overall he was fine,” Maddon said.

Maddon wants to move Kennedy, a second baseman, around the field as much as possible in the event the Rays want to keep him on the Opening Day roster. Kennedy, who played second, short and third before Thursday’s game, has impressed Maddon more with his bat. He’s batting .302 and has drawn seven walks.

“I like he’s at-bats,” Maddon said. “He’s having better at-bats. He’s taken more pitches, which I like. And he’s hitting the ball hard.”

Percival human
Closer Troy Percival allowed his first hit of the spring, an eight-inning opposite field triple by Will Ryhmes that scored the first two runs Percival allowed this spring.

The triple by Ryhmes was just the second ball hit out of the infield off Percival.
Percival had retired 12 of the 13 batters he faced before Thursday’s outing. He walked two before Ryhmes tripled, but was pleased with his night because it was the first time he pitched in consecutive games this spring.

NOTEWORTHTY
B.J. Upton had two walks and stole two bases in three innings during a minor league game Thursday … Mike Joyce, who singled in a run and drew a walk in four plate appearances. It was his first appearance in the center field this season. Aside from an inning in right field during the ninth inning of Wednesday’s win against the Pirates, it was Joyce’s first extended playing time this spring. He will serve as the Rays DH today against the Twins in Fort Myers … Second baseman Akinori Iwamura reported to camp Thursday. He will play today against the Twins … Lance Cormier threw 2 2/3 innings against the Tigers. He allowed four hits but no runs … Dioner Navarro hit his fourth double of the spring … Ben Zobrist tripled for the second time this spring … Carlos Pena had a hit in two at-bats and actually raised his average to .20o. He missed a grand slam in the first inning when his long fly ball to center field pushed Curtis Granderson back to the wall … The Rays have drawn 90,045 to Charlotte Sports Park, a record for home games during the team’s 12 years of spring training. Their previous best was the 79,044 they drew to Al Lang Field in 2007.