Bell's fires stoked as first spring game arrives

By JOANNE KORTH
Published March 4, 2005

[Times photo: Michael Rondou] Rays' reliever Trever Miller worked a scoreless seventh inning in Thursday's 7-3 win over the Reds.

SPORTS POLL Are you planning on attending any spring training games? Yes. I'll attend as many as I can. Yes. But only one or two if I'm lucky. No. I don't care for baseball.

ST. PETERSBURG - With the wind whipping, rain falling and thermometer stuck at 56 degrees, an August day was the last thing that came to mind Thursday at Progress Energy Park.

Except to Rob Bell.

As soon as the Devil Rays starting pitcher hit the dugout steps, his nerves jangled and adrenaline pumped as though he were about to throw a pennant-race game in late summer, not merely the first of many spring training outings. And it felt good.

"You warm up and you feel comfortable and prepared, and as soon as you get in that dugout a few minutes before the game you get ramped up like it's a big game in August," Bell said. "But I tried to harness the emotions and get out of it what I needed to."

Bell pitched two scoreless innings in the Rays' 7-3 victory against the Reds before an announced 1,833 in the Grapefruit League opener for both teams. The Rays are 3-5 in openers, including consecutive victories, with all three wins at home.

The clubs meet again today in Sarasota.

The right-handed Bell allowed one hit, walked one and hit a batter but got a double play from the middle infield each inning to keep the Reds from scoring. Bell also had one strikeout.

"It's good to get two innings up and out of the way," Bell said. "You get out there a little bit anxious, so it takes away a little bit from what you're trying to accomplish, but I feel good."

Left-hander Mark Hendrickson took over for Bell and retired six straight batters. Hendrickson is one of eight or nine pitchers competing for a spot in the starting rotation.

"I think it's a step in the right direction the first time out," Hendrickson said. "It's something to build on. You're always excited to get back out there and get into a game situation. To come out and pitch well gives you confidence for the other games."

The raw weather was not a factor for either Rays pitcher. Bell believes pitchers have the advantage when it's cold because hitters do not like to get jammed with fastballs, which was mostly what he threw.

"As long as you go out and do your job, the pitcher really does have the upper hand," Bell said. "I'm from New York; I grew up in weather like this. If I were in New York today I'd have sunscreen on and be tanning in a Speedo, but it's Florida and 50 degrees is freezing here, and that's the way it works."

HOT BATS: The cold did nothing to ice the Rays' hitters. Tampa Bay collected 14 hits, including four doubles. All runs were earned.

Third baseman Alex Gonzalez led the charge with a 3-for-3 effort, including two doubles and three RBIs. Among the starters, first baseman Travis Lee and shortstop Julio Lugo each went 2-for-3 with two runs. Rightfielder Danny Bautista doubled.

"We had the intensity level up," Gonzalez said. "It was great coming out swinging like we did. Any time you get into a rhythm, even if it's the first day of spring training, it feels good."

Tampa Bay touched the Reds' first two pitchers, starter and ex-Ray Paul Wilson and Ben Weber, for eight hits in three innings to take a 4-0 lead.

LEFT ... NO, RIGHT: Just before Hendrickson took the mound, Gonzalez asked how hitters react to his offspeed pitches. Hendrickson advised that most hit toward shortstop.

Oops.

The first batter, outfielder Rob Stratton, drilled a ball down the third-base line, giving Gonzalez the chance to make a spectacular diving catch to his backhand side.

"He gave me opposite advice, but it worked out for both of us," said Gonzalez, who is making the transition from shortstop in his first season with the Rays. "It was the first hard-hit ball I've had at third base. I was glad I was able to make that play."

MISCELLANY: Reserve Brian Buchanan doubled. ... The Reds' Bobby Estalella hit the only home run, a two-run shot off Travis Harper. ... Rays second baseman Roberto Alomar, who missed Wednesday's exhibition against the Naval Academy because of strep throat, was robbed of a hit in the first inning by first baseman Jacob Cruz's diving, backhand stop of grounder down the line. ... Baseball America named outfielder Delmon Young, the first overall pick in the 2003 draft, the No. 3 prospect in baseball in its annual top 100 released this week. Left-hander Scott Kazmir was ranked No. 7 and right-hander Jeff Niemann, last year's first-rounder, was No. 20 despite not having pitched a professional inning. Outfielder Joey Gathright, at 87th, was the only other Ray on the list. ... The Rays play 10 of the next 16 at Progress Energy Park.

[Last modified March 4, 2005, 00:31:15]