Shields stout, Rodriguez shines again as Rays win

Posted Mar 17, 2010 by Tribune Sports

Updated Mar 17, 2010 at 03:54 PM

PORT CHARLTOTTE – The Rays unveiled a formula Wednesday they’d like to see repeated several times during the regular season: No. 1 starter James Shields turning the ball over to closer Rafael Soriano with a lead en route to a Tampa Bay victory.

Of course, this was a spring game, and Shields turned the ball over after five innings. But the combination otherwise worked almost as well as it could in a Rays 5-2 victory against the Twins at Charlotte Sports Park.

“I wouldn’t mind that (in the regular season), because it means I’m going eight innings,” Shields said. “It’s good to see him out there. I was finishing up in the bullpen while he was throwing, and he looked pretty good for the most part.”

Shield pitched five innings and allowed only one run, a solo home by Luke Hughes, on four hits. He threw 56 pitches, plus 14 more in the bullpen to stretch out his day to 70 pitches and struck out three while walking none.

As he has all spring, the opening day starter looked in regular season form. His ERA after three starts (7 2/3 innings)  is 1.04.

“I just wanted to stay smooth,” he said. “I felt like my stuff was there; that’s’ all that really matters. My last start got canceled (last Friday), so I was really working on some mechanical things in the cage when I did the simulated game, and it seemed to translate into this game.”

Soriano, the Rays new $7 million closer, made his long awaited spring debut in the sixth inning. He struck out Nick Punto and Jason Kubel swinging, but them hit Michael Cuddyer and got himself into a little trouble.

With pinch-runner Brian Dinkelman at third and Delmon Young at second after a double, Wilson Ramos hit a hard liner to right field. But Justin Ruggiano ran it down for the third out, and Soriano had a scoreless inning..

Soriano said he wasn’t nervous about appearing in a Rays uniform for the first time.

“No, no, no, that would be the first time you’re in the big leagues,” he said. “But to me, I’ve got seven years already, and it was normal.”

Sean Rodriguez, the sensation of the Rays’ camp, made his first start in center field and passed the test in the third inning with a highlights-video catch on a deep drive by Tampa Catholic grad Denard Span over his head.

“When he hit it, I just said, ‘man, that might get over my head,’ so I just took off running back,” Rodriguez said. “When I went to pick it up again, I said, ‘I might have a shot at this.’ So I laid out and wound up finding it in my glove when I got up.”

Manager Joe Maddon was impressed.

“We really try to get our center fielders to play shallow, and he was,” he said. “As soon as the ball was hit, I said to Davey (bench coach Martinez), ‘we’re going to find out how he goes back on the ball.’ And he went back on the ball really well and made a great play.”

S-Rod also stretched a single into a double in his first at-bat, went to third on a bunt and scored on a groundout. He went 2-for-3 with two runs and raised his spring batting average to .433.

In the Rays’ seventh, Dan Johnson scored on a wild pitch after doubling and Ruggiano, who continues to have a strong camp, hit a two-RBI triple to left.
The Rays improved to 11-3, the best spring record in the majors. They’ll travel to Tampa on Friday to play a night game against the Yankees at Steinbrenner Field.

- Tony Fabrizio