PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – Carlos Pena, Evan Longoria and Luke Scott homered for the Tampa Bay Rays, but four errors and a shaky relief outing from Wade Davis led to a 7-7 tie Saturday against the Boston Red Sox.
The game was called after nine innings.
Red Sox Manager Bobby Valentine left his regulars in Fort Myers, opting to bring minor leaguers and backups.
Rays Manager Joe Maddon used a handful of relievers because the scheduled starter, Jeff Niemann, was a late scratch. Niemann, who beat out Davis for the fifth spot in Tampa Bay’s rotation, had a blister on his right middle finger but isn’t expected to miss his first regular-season start.
Davis labored through three innings, giving up five runs on five hits and a walk.
TIGERS: Justin Verlander tuned up for opening day against Boston with a crisp outing in his final spring start, and Detroit beat Atlanta 2-1 in a game called after six innings because of rain at Kissimmee, Fla.
YANKEES: Robinson Cano and Raul Ibanez had two-run homers as the Yankees beat Houston 11-9 in a game shortened to eight innings by rain at Kissimmee, Fla.
INDIANS: Jeanmar Gomez won the competition for fifth starter over veteran Kevin Slowey, who was sent to the minors.
TWINS: Minnesota optioned backup catcher Drew Butera to Triple-A Rochester, ensuring it will carry two catchers to start the season – Joe Mauer and Ryan Doumit.
WHITE SOX: John Danks was sharp in his final outing before starting on opening day, pitching six innings in a 3-1 loss to Colorado at Glendale, Ariz.
PHILLIES: Roy Halladay pitched two innings in a rain-delayed start, and Philadelphia went on to an 8-5 loss to Toronto at Clearwater, Fla.
MARLINS: Mark Buehrle allowed three earned runs in his final exhibition tuneup, and Miami beat the New York Mets 6-5 at Jupiter, Fla.
NATIONALS: Stephen Strasburg pitched four innings in his final tuneup for Washington, which lost 6-2 to St. Louis at Viera, Fla.
ANGELS: Albert Pujols homered for the second straight day and Los Angeles played to a 3-3 tie with the Chicago Cubs in 10 innings at Mesa, Ariz.
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