Howard Hits Fourth Spring Homer But Rays Beat Phillies 15-7
CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Phillies starter John Lannan got plenty of working pitching out of the stretch — in the game and after it, too.
Sean Rodriguez and Shelley Duncan homered Saturday and the Tampa Bay Rays beat Philadelphia 15-7. Ryan Howard hit his fourth spring homer for the Phillies.
Lannan gave up four runs in the third, including a two-run homer by Rodriguez.
"I felt good," Lannan said. "I had a little trouble out of stretch there in the third, but made an adjustment in the fourth. Glad I could've worked on it, and I went into the bullpen and worked on it a little more."
Rays starter Jeff Niemann allowed one run and four hits in 3 2-3 innings.
The Rays scored four times in the seventh and six more in the eighth, battering relievers Antonio Bastardo and B.J. Rosenberg.
"We've played well," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "And the way we're playing, they're playing, the depth of this club, it's a good group to be around."
Ben Revere and Humberto Quintero each had three hits for the Phillies. Quintero, who drove in three runs, will likely be the backup catcher on opening day, but could go elsewhere when Carlos Ruiz returns from his 25-game suspension.
The Phillies scored three times in the sixth to close to 5-4 on a sacrifice fly by Yuniesky Betancourt and RBI singles from Quintero and Revere.
Rays center fielder Desmond Jennings left the game early with a mild ankle sprain, something Maddon said should only keep him out one or two games.
"Desmond's fine," Maddon said. "He could have continued to play. I saw him at second, he kind of hit the bag a little bit funny, so I did not want to take any chances.
NOTES: The Phillies reassigned six players to minor league camp on Saturday, including Adam Morgan, J.C. Ramirez, Kyle Simon, Tommy Joseph, Cody Asche and Michael Martinez. The team also optioned Joe Savery to minor league camp. ... Matt Moore will make his third start of the spring for the Rays on Sunday against the Red Sox. ... LH Cole Hamels will start Sunday for the Phillies on the road against Houston.
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