DiFelice doubles to start three-run third

Don’t rule out Mike DiFelice as the Rays backup catcher.

Had the ball that struck Shawn Riggans in his left hand Saturday broken a bone instead of just bruised it, than I would say DiFelice is already on the roster.

Still, Riggans, the early favorite to be the backup catcher, missed a lot of time last season and might benefit from more time at Triple A, and DiFelice would serve as a good backup. He works well with pitchers, could tutor Dioner Navarro and he still has some life in his bat, as witnessed by the double to deep left he hit to start the bottom of the third.

And DiFelice has decent wheels for a catcher. He just scored from second on Aki’s slow-roller up the middle.

Rays 1, Tigers 0

Bartlett singles to right, putting runners on the corners with no out and Pena coming to bat.

Make that runners at second and third. Willis bounced a pitch to the plate and St. Pierre did a good job of not letting it get past him. Only Bartlett could move up a base. Aki had to hold at third.

Remember the wind that knocked down Hinske’s drive to right last inning?

It just stopped Pena’s drive to center, which was caught by Granderson with a little hop at the wall. Still, it was plenty far to score Aki and allow Bartlett to cross to third.

Rays 2, Tigers 0.

The Rays score again when Upton lines out to the deepest part of the park – 400 feet in dead center. Bartlett could have crawled home.

Rays 3, Tigers 0

The Rays are hitting some drives off Willis, but Willis' best friend today is the spacious outfield and the ever-present wind. Otherwise, the Rays are up 5-0.