Evan the Great

I’m going to go out on a limb here and make this prediction during the sixth inning of the Rays second spring training game: Evan Longoria is going to Baltimore for Opening Day.

If not, the Rays will have to flood the moat to keep fans from storming the Trop.

Longoria just tripled home a pair of runs to put the Rays ahead 3-2. He then scampered home on a triple by Ben Zobrist.

That’s an RBI double and an RBI triple in two games for the rookie third baseman.

Longoria is the face of the new Rays.

He has smarts, good looks and, most important, talent.

Lots of talent.

Lots and lots of talent.

Those who play with him and those who have coached him in the minor leagues say there is no doubt in their minds the kid is ready for the big leagues.

That decision, though, is not theirs to make.

The Rays took a 4-2 lead into the seventh inning.

It should have been 5-2. Zobrist tried to score from third on a fly ball, but was called out by home plate umpire Phil Cuzzi.

“Called” is the key word here.

It looked like Zobrist had slid under the tag, but, hey, it’s spring training for Cuzi, too.

By the way, we just talked to Shields, and he said he was a little tired in that second inning and his mechanics were off.

“I don’t hit guys with my changeup very often,” he said.

Then, in a statement that would make Bucs coach Jon Gruden proud, Shields said he was going to go look at the tape of himself pitching today.

Rays 4, Jays 2.