Aki's blast gives Rays 1-0 lead

It didn’t take long for the Rays to jump on the scoreboard.

Aki Iwamura lined an opposite field home run to left field to put the Rays up 1-0 one batter into the game.

It was the second home run of the season for the Rays second baseman.

Jason Michaels singled with one out off Andy Sonnanstine in the bottom half of the inning. He was erased on a nifty and somewhat unusual 3-5-1 double play. With Travis Hafner hitting, Rays shortstop Jason Bartlett moved to the second base side of the infield and third baseman Elliot Johnson moved over toward short.

Carlos Pena fielded the hot smash by Pronk, threw to Johnson covering the bag at second and Sonnanstine hustled over to take the throw from Johnson and complete the play.

Before the game Rays general manager Andrew Friedman called Johnson the surprise of the camp because of his hitting and ability to play different positions – second base, his natural position, short, third and center field.

Johnson is going to make the team as the utility infielder.