Upton update

By ROGER MOONEY
rmooney@bradenton.com
PORT CHARLOTTE — The next installment of B.J. Upton’s comeback from shoulder surgery had him playing center field for the Rays Class A team, the Stone Crabs, Wednesday at Charlotte Sports Park.

Upton didn’t bat. He just played three innings and caught one fly ball.
“We want to get him out there moving around,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said. “His day is pretty much over by noon, so (athletic trainer) Ron Porterfield wanted to have him do something, build up some stamina.”

Upton will play in another minor league game today and is expected to bat.
No timetable has been set for his return.

Longo leaving?
The Rays did not receive word on whether third baseman Evan Longoria will be needed by Team USA, which advanced to the semifinals of the World Baseball Classic.

With third baseman Chipper Jones out with an injury, Team USA has a chance to replace him on the roster.

Longoria has said he would like to play for the national team.

He was scheduled to play third base for the Rays on Wednesday, but was sent home after catching the stomach virus that is making its way around the Rays clubhouse.

Percy perfect
Rays closer Troy Percival has faced nine batters over three outings this spring and has retired all nine, including the three Reds he faced during the sixth inning Wednesday.

In fact, Reds catcher Wilkin Castillo became the first batter to get a ball out of the infield off Percival when he flied out to center field for the second out of the sixth inning.

A win for Nelson
Joe Nelson, who has struggled this spring, pitched a perfect fifth inning that included a strikeout and earned the victory, thanks to the Rays seven runs in the bottom of the inning.

“He needs to start throwing fastballs more,” Maddon said before the game. “He’s throwing too many change-ups and getting them up.”

Nelson, who allowed seven runs and four home runs in his first 2 2/3 innings this spring, lowered his ERA from 23.63 to 17.18.

Brigzilla?
Reid Brignac finished off the Rays seven-run rally in the fifth inning with his third home run of the season, a three-run shot to the boardwalk in right field.

Brignac has eight hits, three of them are home runs.

He is now tied with Ray Sadler and Jon Weber for the team lead in home runs.

NOTEWORTHY
The Rays drew six more walks to up their spring total to 71 walks in 18 games ... Dioner Navarro did not start, but played the final five innings so he could work with the relievers ... Grant Balfour pitched a perfect inning with two strikes. It was his first hitless inning of his four appearances.