Game 30: Minnesota Twins 1 Rays 0 — Postgame News and Notes

Chris Archer, the Opening Day starter for the Rays, wrapped up a strong spring with an impressive final tuneup. Archer threw three scoreless innings in Ft Myers on Tuesday against the Minnesota Twins. The Rays dropped the game 1–0.

Archer threw 39 pitches/27 strikes, and allowed just a hit and a walk while striking out four. During the outing, Archer’s fastball sat between 95 and 97 mph, and he showed the ability to locate his slider and his changeup. Archer was understandably pleased with his outing, and his spring as he preps for a third straight Opening Day start:

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After Archer, Danny Farquhar worked a scoreless fourth, and Chase Whitley, vying for a bullpen spot, put up a pair of zeroes in the fifth and sixth, allowing just a walk and a hit.

Austin Pruitt allowed the game’s only run with two out in the seventh when Byung Ho Park hit an opposite field homer to right-center, his fifth homer of the spring. That was the only run of the game, as Pruitt pitched two solid innings.

In his Rays debut in a Major League spring training game, Derek Norris was 1-for-3 and threw out a runner trying to steal. He caught seven innings behind the plate, and was pleased with his day overall.

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Daniel Robertson continued his push toward a roster spot with two of the team’s five hits. Manager Kevin Cash said after game that he was pleased with Robertson, Norris and the Rays pitching:

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The Rays host the Orioles on Wednesday at Charlotte Sports Park. Erasmo Ramirez will get the start opposite Baltimore’s Opening Day pitcher Kevin Gausman. You can hear the game on www.raysbaseball.com with Neil Solondz and Doug Waechter beginning at 1 p.m. with first pitch at 1:05.