Aybar taketh, Orvella giveth away

Rays manager Joe Maddon has praised the Rays base running during the first three exhibition games. He really loved it during the top of the fourth when Jonny Gomes hustled all the way from first to score on Willy Aybar’s two-out, two-run double to center field.

Pena scored ahead of Gomes as the Rays tied the score at 2-2.

But …

For every top of the fourth there is a bottom, and Chad Orvella pitched the bottom of the fourth for the Rays and walked the leadoff batter.

Then gave up a double.

Polanco followed with an RBI single.

Tigers 3, Rays 2.

Orvella caught a break when Sheff’s long fly down the left field line hooked foul. Orvella survived the scare and stuck out Sheffield.

But Marcus Thames, who replaced Guillen, drilled a pitch into the left field berm for a three run homer.

Tigers 6, Rays 2.

Orvella allowed another hit by got out of the inning.