Triskaidekaphobia vs. Pi
After facing the Phillies, Rays RHP Chris Archer said he preferred some "out of the box" questions rather than the usual about his pitching. Okay, he was asked, was he more intrigued by it being Friday the 13th or today being Pi Day? "Pi Day is a little less reoccurring," he said, "so 3.14.15, I think the Pi Day is more intriguing."
Helping hand
After spending Thursday night at his North Tampa home, manager Kevin Cash dropped his truck at the nearby GMC dealer Friday morning to have something in the computer board fixed. He borrowed one of the dealer cars to get to the game in Clearwater, joking that it would cost him two tickets but they'd bring the truck over when it was ready. Turned out to be an even better deal for the dealer's rep when he got to Bright House Field. "I guess he got to watch the last two innings from the dugout. That wasn't anticipated, but whatever," Cash said. "That was Joe, the head service guy at Ed Morse GMC."
Note of the day
Friday's first inning run was the first the Rays scored before the fourth inning in 10 spring games.
Family affair
Rays Triple-A manager Jared Sandberg came up to Clearwater on Thursday to have dinner with his uncle, Phillies manager Ryne, and his wife, Margaret, in advance of Friday's game. They brought up Jared's comment after their first meeting last week about stealing Ryne's signs. Margaret asked him if really did. Jared claimed he had, but that either way it was funny. Ryne apparently agreed, saying, "That was creative."
The dish
Rays at Orioles
When/where: 1:05 today; Ed Smith Stadium, 2700 12th St., Sarasota
Radio: 620-AM
Tickets: $10-$23, available via orioles.com, 877-222-2802
Rays information: Toll-free 1-888-326-7297 (FAN-RAYS)
Pitchers: Rays — Nathan Karns, Jose Dominguez, Jeff Beliveau, Steve Geltz, Jhan Marinez, Robert Zarate; Orioles — Brian Matusz, relievers TBA.
Heads-up
John Jaso is scheduled for his second appearance in leftfield today.
On deck
Sunday: vs. Mets, 1:05. Rays — Matt Andriese; Mets — Bartolo Colon
Monday: off
Tuesday: at Phillies (Clearwater), 1:05. Rays — Alex Cobb; Phillies — TBA
Exhibition schedule
All games 1:05 p.m. unless noted:
March
18 at Blue Jays, 1:07
19 vs. Twins*
20 vs. Blue Jays
21 vs. Twins
22 at Blue Jays, 12:37
23 vs. Pirates
25 at Twins
26 vs. Yankees*
27 at Orioles
28 vs. Red Sox*
29 at Red Sox**
30 vs. Orioles
31 at Orioles (ss) vs. Red Sox (ss)
April
1 at Yankees
2 at Phillies
3 at Tigers**
4 vs. Tigers at Tropicana Field, 12:35
* Televised Sun Sports
** Televised MLB Network
Marc Topkin, Times staff writer