The Tampa Bay Rays ended the road portion of the Grapefruit League Tuesday by engaging in a pitcher’s duel with the Atlanta Braves. Unfortunately, it was Sean Newcomb that outdueled Core Kluber, and Matt Olson‘s RBI double that proved to be the difference as the Braves took a 1-0 decision at CoolToday Park.
Kluber ended up scattering six hits in his five innings of work and struck out four, but it would be his only walk of the game, a one-out free pass to William Contreras, that would lead to the only run of the game. Two batters later, Olson doubled to center, and the Atlanta catcher was able to score from first base to break the scoreless tie.
Meanwhile, Braves pitching held the Rays to just one hit on the afternoon, a seventh-inning single by Francisco Mejia, but they had runners on base in almost every inning. Tampa Baydrew four walks and had a pair of batters hit by a pitch. They left six on base in the game, and Yandy Diaz hit into a pair of inning-ending double plays that killed possible rallies.
Along with Kluber, the Rays got scoreless outings from Jeffrey Springs, Jason Adam and Andrew Kittredge.
Tampa Bay will play one final exhibition game Wednesday at Tropicana Field, when they take on the Philadelphia Phillies. Luis Patino will get the start, taking on Ranger Suarez. First pitch is scheduled for 12:35.
Steve Carney is the founder and publisher of St. Pete Nine. One of the people most associated with baseball coverage in Tampa Bay, he spent 13 seasons covering the Rays for flagship radio station WDAE, first as producer of Rays Radio broadcasts, then as beat reporter beginning in 2011. He likes new analytics and aged bourbon, and is the owner of one of the ugliest knuckleballs ever witnessed by baseball scouts.
