PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (AP) — Reigning AL Rookie of the Year Jeremy Hellickson pitched two scoreless innings for Tampa Bay in his spring debut on Sunday and the Rays lost to a Minnesota Twins split squad 5-3.
Hellickson gave up a leadoff single to Alexi Casilla and threw 16 pitches in the opening inning. He needed only six pitches to retire the side in the second.
Casilla had three hits, including an infield single off Fernando Rodney in the third. The new Rays reliever allowed one run on two hits and a wild pitch.
Rays shortstop candidate Sean Rodriguez had two hits. He also was hit by a pitch, a year after he was plunked 18 times.
A day after homering off Twins opening-day starter Carl Pavano, Matt Joyce delivered an RBI single.
