Twins at Rays

The day started on a good note.

Closer Troy Percival said he will be ready by Opening Day, and manager Joe Maddon actually agreed. Percy is scheduled to throw a bullpen today and make his spring debut Thursday against the Phillies.

Scott Kazmir makes his first start of the spring today against the visiting Twins at Charlotte Sports Park.

Here are the lineups:

Twins
Matt Tolbert SS
Alexi Casilla 2B
Joe Crede DH
Delmon Young LF
Brian Buscher 3B
Mike Redmond C
Brendan Harris 1B
David Winfree RF
Luis Matos CF
Kevin Slowey P

Rays
Jason Bartlett SS
Carl Crawford LF
Gabe Kapler CF
Pat Burrell DH
Ben Zobrist 3B
Morgan Ensberg 1B
Justin Ruggiano RF
Adam Kennedy 2B
Shawn Riggans C
Scott Kazmir P

Rays pound BoSox

Outfielder Jon Weber drove in a spring training-record six runs as the Rays beat the visiting Red Sox 15-7 at Charlotte Sports Park.

Weber hit a three-run double in the fifth and drove a two-run, opposite field home run into the left field bullpen in the eight.

Rays reliever Grant Balfour suffered a bruise on the inside of the elbow of his pitching arm. He could miss an outing or two depending how much swelling is in the arm Sunday. Balfour was injured when he was struck by a line drive from former Rays Nick Green.

James Shields allowed a run in two innings during his spring debut.

Jason Hammel, competing for the fifth spot in the rotation or a spot in the bullpen, allowed four runs in his three innings. Pitch selection was his problem.

Outfielder Ray Sadler became the first player to hit a ball into the lake beyond the boardwalk in left field.

The game attracted a record crowd of 7,147 to Charlotte Sports Park. That's the largest crowd to see the Rays play at either Charlotte Sports Park or Al Lang Field.

BoSox vs Rays

The Red Sox make their second trip to Charlotte Sports Park this afternoon.

A full house is expected, and a quick check of the traffic along State Road 776 - it's creeping - says it should be a full house.

James Shields make his spring debut against a Red Sox lineup lacking for star power.

Here are the lineups:

Red Sox
Jacoby Ellsbury CF
Jed Lowrie 3B
Chris carter 1B
Brad Wilkerson RF
Jeff Bailey LF
Paul McAnulty DH
Josh Bard C
Nick Green 2B
Diaz Argenis SS
Tim Wakefield P

Rays
Jason Bartlett SS
Carl Crawford LF
Gabe Kapler RF
Gabe Gross DH
Adam Kennedy 2B
Ben Zobrist CF
Shawn Riggans C
Chris Richards 1B
Ray Olmedo 3B
James Shields P

Pena leads Rays past Pirates

Carlos Pena was 2-for-2 with three RBIs and a run scored in the Rays 8-5 victory against the Pirates at McKechnie Field.

Elliot Johnson hit his second home run of the spring.

Fernando Perez dropped down a bunt single.

Gabe Gross stole a base.

Evan Longoria had two hits and drove a fly ball to the center field wall in his first at-bat.

Carlos Hernandez made a case for himself to be included in the running for the fifth spot in the rotation with 3 2/3 shutout innings.

The Rays drew the largest crowd at McKechnie this spring proving they are not a hit in their own town.

The Red Sox make their second trip to Charlotte Sports Park on Saturday. James Shields will make his spring training debut for the Rays.

Call him Mr. Johnson

Call him Mr. Johnson.

Elliot Johnson homered to right to start the second inning. It was his team-leading second homer of the spring.

Johnson doesn't look like much, but he's got a little pop in his bat. He once homered in three consecutive at-bats in the minor leagues, homering in the first, second and third innings.

Carlos Pena's is 2-for-2 with three RBIs after his two-run double in the second.

An RBI single by Gabe Gross gives the Rays a 6-0 lead.

It was an interesting inning for the Rays.

Fernando Perez reached on a bunt single and stole second. Gross also stole second.

Home runs, two-run doubles, bunt singles and stolen bases.

Thunder and lightening, that's what the 2009 Rays will be.

Maybe.

That's Mr. Pena to you

Carlos Pena's first at-bat of the spring looked an awful lot like a lot of his at-bats lasts season.

Batting in the top of the first, Pena sent a blast to the opposite field that hit the top of the wall and bounced back toward the infield.

Justin Ruggiano scored the first run of the game on the play.

Pena missed the first week of games while he rehabbed from his January surgery to repair two tears in his lower abdominal muscle.

He said he's in the best shape of his life because of all the exercises he's done to his core muscles.

He looked good on that swing.

The Rays lead 2-0 with the Pirates coming to bat in the bottom of the first.

Ode to a hat

Saw this hat in the team store at McKechnie Field a few years back. Almost bought it. Didn't. Now wish I did.

They don't carry it now, of course. I suppose I can find it on-line.

I remember when teams wore these pillbox hats in 1976. The Mets, Phillies, Reds and Pirates. There might have been more teams, but those I remember. It was to honor the 100th anniversary of the National League, so only National League teams wore them.

I thought they were kind of goofy then, but I was in the eighth grade, so what did I know?

The 1979 Pirates wore the gold and black pillboxes to the World Series title - their last.

I've always liked the Pirates, and have met a few of the guys from the 1971 and 1979 championship teams over the years at Pirate City. Nicew guys, every one of them.

I have a hat from the 1971 season, replica, of course.

Now I want one from 1979.

Wish I bought it that day at McKechnie.

Dang.