The Phillies starting pitching was once again poor and their bats returned to near silence as the Phillies fell to the Tampa Bay Rays in the Grapefruit League finale at Bright House Field in Clearwater. Jerome Williams gave up nine hits and six runs in five and two-thirds innings of work. Williams will be either the third or fourth starter in the Phillies starting rotation, but leaves the Spring with an 0-4 record and a 7.60 ERA.
The Phillies lineup was able to put up just one run. The run came from the biggest offensive producer in the Spring in Rule 5 draft pick Odubel Herrera. Herrera went 3-4 and provided the lone run of the game for the Phillies in the form of a solo home run. Hererra is the one bright spot on the Phillies this Spring.
The highlight of the game came in the top of the ninth inning when Jonathan Papelbon entered the game. No, it was not baseball related. Papelbon pulled his annual prank of coming into the game with a Carlos Ruiz jersey. Phillies fans yelled "Chooch!" as he took the mound. The smiles were shortlived as Papelchooch gave up a leadoff home run to Leonardo Reginatto on the very first pitch to give the Rays a 7-1 lead.
Papelbon walked the next batter, Curt Casali, gave up a single to Joey Rickard, and then a triple to Tyler Goeddell to make the score 9-1. The Rays hit for the cycle with a double off the bat of Joey Butler to give the Rays a 10-1 lead. The Phillies were then forced to summon Cody Forsythe from the minor league camp to pitch, ending Papelbon's nightmare. Forsythe got the last two outs.
In the ninth, the Phillies went down 1-2-3, ending Florida Spring Training with a 10-1 loss.
The Phillies will head home to Philadelphia for two exhibition games against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Friday night's game will be at 7:05 p.m. and Saturday's at 1:05 p.m.
