Rays-Phils, again

Evan Longoria, right, is congratulated by Joe Maddon, left, in the three run sixth inning. [James Borchuck, Times]

Update 4:57 Rays win 3-1, matching their spring record with 14 wins.

Update 3:00 Another single by Jason Bartlett off reliever JC Romero made it 3-1, and they go now to the 7th. Troy Percival worked another 1-2-3 inning.

Update 2:53 Talk about r-e-s-p-e-c-t, 3B prospect Evan Longoria was just intentionally walked by Jamie Moyer to load the bases and bring Mike Difelice to the plate. Difelice made them pay with a single to center, though Eric Hinske was thrown out at the plate. Rays lead 2-1.

Update 2:49 Rays just tied it in the sixth when B.J. Upton led off with a double and Cliff Floyd followed with a single.

Update 2:34 Jackson is struggling a bit in the sixth, allowing two on with two out. With a single, a walk and a hit batter, th ebases are now loaded, and manager Joe Maddon just brought in Al Reyes.

Update 2:24 Phils lead 1-0 going to the sixth, and Jackson came out to start another inning.

pdate 2:14 Jackson just gave up his second hit, and it led to a Phillies run with two outs in the fifth.

Update 2:09 And there goes the no-hiter, as Geoff Jenkins singles to lead off the fifth.

Update 2:06 Heading to the fifth with no score. Jacksononly baserunner so far was a hit batter in the fourth.

Update 1:53 Rays had the bases loaded with no outs in the third, but Phils starter Jamie Moyer did what Jamie Moyer does - wriggle out of trouble. B.J. Upton struck out, and Cliff Floyd bounced into a double-play.

Update, 1:38 Jackson has been dominating, retiring his first nine, three by strikeouts. Some major winds blowing in from the outfield have helped both pitchers.

Update 1:16 Jackson had a 1-2-3 first inning; the Rays threatened when Carl Crawford doubled down the rightfield line (in the regular season it would have been one of his trademark triples), but B.J. Upton struck out against Jamie Moyer and Cliff Floyd popped up.

Update, 1:05 Edwin Jackson threw the first pitch as the Rays are wearing their new home white regular-season uniforms for the first time.

Update, 12:40 Well, there is some clarity on the status of Scott Kazmir and "catch-gate." Kazmir said he did play catch for about 5 minutes both Tuesday and today, though acknowledged it wasn't a "formal" throwing session. "We went on the back field and just threw a little bit,'' he said. So he was throwing, and reiterated that he felt fine. "This is nothing new,'' he said. "I'm good, I'm fine, I'm wonderful.''
Kazmir said he also did the aforementioned sock drill.
And he said they "hadn't decided for sure" but he was planning on a bullpen session Thursday morning. "We're kinda just playing it by ear,'' Kazmir said.

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The Rays and Phillies are ready for the second half of their home and home series, and most of the pre-game talk was again about injuries.

Most important is the status of ace LHP Scott Kazmir, who will be limited again today to inside work with head athletic trainer Ron Porterfield, doing exercises and the "sock drill" - where Kazmir lightly throws a ball inside a sock. His status seems a bit murky - Kazmir said he played "a little bit" of catch on Tuesday, Maddon said he didn't throw at all. Kazmir said he is planning to throw a bullpen session on Thursday, Maddon didn't sound nearly as optimistic.

As for the others, 3B Willy Aybar will likely be sidelined through the weekend due to "soreness and tightness" in his left hamstring, which could further complicate things there. Maddon said, by the way, that no decision has been made yet on prospect Evan Longoria.

C Shawn Riggans said his bruised left hand was still sore and puffy but he hoped to swing  a bat for the first time today and possibly get into a game on Thursday or Friday.

As for the lineups:
Iwamura, 2b
Crawford, lf
Upton CF
Floyd DH
Gomes RF
Hinske 1b
Longoria 3b
DiFelice C
Bartlett SS
Edwin Jackson will start for the Rays, with Troy Percival, Grant Balfour, Scott Dohmann and Scott Munter also available.

PHILLIES
Bruntlett CF
Werth DH
Snelling LF
Howard 1B
Jenkins RF
Felix 3b
Smith 2b
Ruiz C
Olmedo SS
P - LHP Jamie Moyer

Comments

[rayray]

Agree bodog, we have to stop being so petty thinking 7 yrs in advance on Longo. He's clearly showed that not only does he belongs in the Bigs, but should be starting 3B on Opening days. After the momentum that has been built this spring, positive national press, the roster players coming out and saying "we all want him here", it would be a shame to lose any steam heading into the season from it. Rays are going to have to pay him regardless, so difference is it if it's 2013 or 2014, we want to win NOW & we're not that far away from being contenders, so pathetic of FO to delay him over such b/c he's a special rare talent and predicted to be "Rookie of the Year" and deserve a little special treatment(how often in our 11th yr. have we had a pre-season ROY nomination besides DY & we all know what he did), but no let's sending him down b/c of a few $$$ 6 or 7 seven yrs from now, geesh.

[Erik]

Since when is Jamie Moyer one of the more talented pitchers in the league?

[Bodog]

This morning, I read a newspaper article,headlines,"Don't Rush Him", written by St.Pete Times sports writer John Romano. The jest of the article - to keep Longoria on the 25 man squad for opening day or send him down to the minors for a month or two. I understand the reasoning why Rays Management would want to send Longoria to the minors so they can have him for an extra year (2014) rather than lose him to free agency in the year 2013.
People - we are talking about the years 2013 and 2014, six and seven years into the future. The FUTURE of the Rays is RIGHT NOW - starting the year 2008. The Rays have all these young and very talented men who are in the prime of their baseball careers and ready to bust loose. This team is only one or two players away from legitimately challenging those old dudes in Yankee pinstripes and Bosox red. Let the kid take his lumps in the big show. My grandma, God rest her soul, once told me "What doesn't kill ya - will make ya stronger".
In my opinion, and you know what they say about opinions,I don't think Evan Longoria is this weak minded kid who's gonna go into the tank if he isn't as successful in the first two months of the season as the baseball people of the Rays think.
The Rays schedule in the first two months of the season is actually set with teams where Longoria could be extremely successful.
If he makes the 25 man squad, he's gonna be batting in the lower 3rd of the batting order, you can't ask for a better place to hide him. Take today for instant, a preseason baseball game, mind you. Jaime Moyer one of the more talented pitchers in MLB was instructed to walk Longoria to get at the next batter - that people is RESPECT and the Rays in the past 11 years haven't gotten a lot of that. THIS is the impact Evan Longoria can have on this team THIS YEAR and not 2013 0r 2014.

[Rays]

Wow Tiger so you were able to read the article written this morning...I am proud of you...how about the affect on the team and community when they see that this kid is being held down for financial reasons only. They have preached this "you have to earn it" to get to the bigs and now they would turn around and do the opposite? I understand the busines side of it but come on...I think they have a lot of momentum going into the season and it would be stupid to wreck that now.

[tigers]

It's not about talent, but rather about the long term. Losing him for one month now may be worth it in order to keep him around an extra year when the Rays might REALLY be in a position to compete for championships.

[Rays]

how could they start him at Durham when he is allready getting intentionally walked in the Bigs by a veteran pitcher?

[tiger]

Great blog. Thanks for the continuous updates for this uprooted Rays fan.