PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - Evan Longoria likes the way Tampa Bay's offence is shaping up in spring training.
The Rays may not have the type of lineup that figures to hit a lot of homers this year, however their three-time All-Star third baseman feels the team will be capable of scoring plenty of runs.
"We may not be hitting for much power, but we're doing a great job with runners in scoring position," Longoria said Friday after hitting a two-run double that helped the Rays beat the Philadelphia Phillies 3-2 despite a rough outing for reigning AL Cy Young Award winner David Price.
"We're doing really good things with moving the baseball. ... There are a lot of guys who are really playing unselfishly right now, and really understanding how we're going to win," Longoria added. "Obviously we don't have a club that's going to hit a ton of home runs as a group, and we understand we're going to have to do those little things to put up runs offensively. It's good to see that early in the spring."
Price was hit hard, allowing eight hits 鈥� though only two runs 鈥� in four innings. Kevin Frandsen had two hits off the left-hander, including a solo homer in the third.
Michael Young also drove in a run off Price with a first-inning single, the last of three straight hits the Phillies put together to begin the game.
While Price was encouraged by the fact that he allowed just two runs and didn't walk anyone during the 61-pitch outing, he lauded the patience of Philadelphia's hitters.
"You don't see that a whole lot in spring training. Guys are doing whatever they can to make the team. Not a whole lot of guys take the approaches I thought they did," said Price, who hadn't allowed a run in two previous starts this spring.
"I felt fine. It's part of spring training. One day you feel great, the next day you feel not so great," Price added. "But I'm not blaming this on the way I felt or anything. They hit the ball. They hit me well. (Batting practice) was at 11, not 1:05. I didn't get the memo."
Phillies starter Kyle Kendrick allowed three runs and five hits in four innings. He struck out three, including Longoria to finish a one-two-three first.
But Longoria got the better of the right-hander his next time up, driving his double over the head of centre fielder Michael Martinez.
"I hit it good. ... Obviously, he pretty much abused me in the first at-bat," Longoria said. "You live and you learn. I didn't want to really get too deep into the count again. He threw the exact same pitch he did the first at-bat. I just took it the first time. At least I swung that time and got a result out of it. That's the adjustment process we're all going through right now."
The Rays minimized the damage against Price with good defence. Right fielder Matt Joyce threw out Frandsen trying to advance to third base on a single in the first inning, then followed with a nice throw to the plate to prevent Darin Ruf from scoring from third to end the fourth.
Young and Domonic Brown joined Frandsen in having two hits for the Phillies. Freddy Galvis doubled to lead off the game against Price and scored Philadelphia's first run.
Brown is hitting .424 with three homers this spring, catching the eye of manager Charlie Manuel.
"He's probably the bright spot of spring training because of the way he's hitting," Manuel said. "And he's getting better in the outfield, too."
NOTES: RHPs Michael Stutes, Mike Adams and Aaron Cook combined to pitch four scoreless innings for the Phillies. ... Former Yankees and Tigers star Cecil Fielder will be in camp wearing a Rays uniform for three days next week as part of the team's "Adopt-A-Legend-Program." Others who have participated in the past include Joe Namath and former big league infielder Glenn Beckert.
