Pirates jump on Rays 5-0

By Alan Dell

Greetings from McKechnie Field where the Pirates are taking on a Tampa Bay Rays split squad. Kevin Hart starting for Pittsburgh.

The leadoff hitter for the Rays is Sean Rodriguez, who has been their hottest hitter so far coming into the game with a .438 batting average that includes a team leading 3 homers and 6 RBIs.

Wade Davis, who figures to be the fifth guy in the Rays starting rotation, is the starter for Tampa Bay. Bench coach Dave Martinez will be running things for the Rays with manager Joe Maddon staying back in Port Charlotte where the other Rays play Toronto.

Hart got the side out in order in the top of the first.

In the Pirates half of the first, Aki Iwamura struck out looking on a 3-2 pitch, Jose Tabata flied out to right and home town hero Lastings Milledge singled up the middle on a 2-2 pitch after falling behind 0-2. Ryan Doumit and Jeff Clement walked to load the bases.

Andy LaRoche unloaded a three run double off the center field wall that hit the 400 foot sign in deepest center and then Ronny Cedeno smacked a homer over the left field wall to put the Pirates ahead 5-0.