Tampa, Florida – Meanwhile in the Grapefruit League, the Tampa Bay Rays posted a dominating come-from- behind performance during their spring training game Thursday, defeating the Washington Nationals 14-4 at Charlotte Sports Park in Port Charlotte.
After a dismal start to Thursday’s game, the Rays offense finally exploded following 2 1/2 lackluster innings, which saw the Nats pull ahead by four.
The Nationals strong start presented a formidable challenge to Rays pitcher Shane Baz, who had to pitch his way out of a pretty deep hole. Both shortstop CJ Williams and DH James Wood hit early home runs off of Baz, which became the brunt of the Nat’s offense. The Nats managed to score three runs on the Rays in a bloody first inning. By the bottom of the third, the Rays found themselves down by four.
That was enough to wake up the still sleeping Rays, who came alive and posted 1, 5, and 7 runs in the next three consecutive at-bats, capping off with a single run for good measure in the 8th. Shortstop Taylor Walls had a bases clearing double while both second baseman Brandon Lowe and third baseman Coco Montes each contributed with a home run. Meanwhile Tampa Bay’s Shane Baz began really showing his stuff, holding the Nats at four for the rest of the game. Baz told Rays manager Kevin Cash ” That was the best four run game I’ve ever pitched.” The Rays ended the afternoon on 15 hits.
Baz, who missed all of 2023 due to Tommy John surgery, has given up 10 earned runs with four walks and five strikeouts in 9 1/3 innings. Not the best start ever, but Baz is showing that he’s a fighter, and who doesn’t love a great comeback story?
Looking ahead, the Rays have 9 games left in their spring training schedule.
As the countdown to opening day ticks on, spring training comes to an end in a few weeks. Teams are already starting to finalize their rosters in preparation for the upcoming season. The Rays will begin their regular season at George M. Steinbrenner Field against the Rockies on March 28th, playing all home games at the ballpark. The regular home of the Rays, Tropicana Field, was damaged significantly during Hurricane Milton last October and will be undergoing reconstruction.
