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Consistency starts to pay off

ST. PETERSBURG -- Not easily impressed so early in spring training, manager Hal McRae lauded both Bobby Smith and Jason Conti for their weekend performances against the Yankees and Pirates.

Smith played third base, shortstop, second base and the outfield with the Rays and Triple-A Durham last season, but 18 of the 27 innings he's played this spring have been at first base.

He played all nine innings there in a 10-0 win against Pittsburgh on Sunday at Florida Power Park.

"I need a right-handed bat over there just in case," McRae said. "(Steve) Cox is going to play every day, but if I give him a (rest) I would like to use a right-handed bat. It would give us better balance."

Though Smith went 0-for-4 against the Pirates, he made a spectacular backhanded catch on a line drive by Abraham Nunez in the ninth.

"He showed good agility (Saturday), too," McRae said. "He's got quick feet at first."

Said Smith: "As long as I'm on the field I think I can play anywhere."

Conti, who is out of options, has showcased his quickness in the outfield and on the bases. He started the past two games and went a combined 3-for-6 with two runs scored.

"He's not the fastest player on the team," McRae said. "He just plays faster than players I've seen the last two days."

MEMORABLE MORNING: Pitcher Matt White threw off a mound before Sunday's game, the first time he's done so since rotator cuff surgery May 31.

The right-hander threw in the bullpen for five minutes and reported no pain.

"It's good to get back out there," White said. "Ten months of working and not seeing much results you can get a little bored with. It's good to start seeing things pay off."

BUILDING ANTICIPATION: After missing more than a week of games with a sore calf, Greg Vaughn is expected to make his spring debut against the Pirates on Friday in Bradenton.

"Two and a half weeks," Vaughn said. "I'll be ready to go."

McRae has said that he will play Vaughn every other day and as a designated hitter until the "last week or so" when he'll play some in the outfield.

SOLID AGAIN: Wilson Alvarez pitched three scoreless innings, striking out three, walking one and allowing one hit in his third start of the spring on Sunday.

Sidelined the past two seasons because of shoulder surgery, the left-hander has allowed two runs and struck out seven in seven innings.

"Every time I go out there I feel better and better," said Alvarez, who threw 30 of 44 pitches for strikes. "I could've gone another inning but they just wanted me to go three."

DYNAMIC DUO: Don't think Rays coaches won't be watching their starting pitchers closely the next two games.

Joe Kennedy, who starts against the Reds today, and Nick Bierbrodt, who will start Tuesday against the Twins, allowed a combined 10 runs on only three hits while walking 10 in 22/3 innings their last time out.

Both are considered locks to be in the Rays' starting rotation.

"We don't have an alternative," McRae said. "We can't say, if they don't pitch well they won't make the team. If I say that, I'm lying. Everybody knows that.

"I'm confident both guys will be fine."

ODDS AND ENDS: A large walk-up crowd and a computer glitch caused a backup at ticket windows Sunday. Lines were 15-20 deep until the third inning. Nearly half of the 3,558 fans in attendance were walk-ups. ... Jace Brewer's single in the third marked his first hit of spring training. ... Alvarez, Jesus Colome, Travis Harper and Doug Creek combined on a six-hit shutout. The Rays have won back-to-back spring training shutouts for the first time in club history. Tampa Bay pitchers have a 19-inning scoreless streak.

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