TAMPA, Fla. (AP)—The Tampa Bay Rays changed their name this offseason, and the beleaguered organization looks as if its working on a new attitude this spring.
Four days after Carl Crawford barreled over a catcher on a play at the plate, Elliot Johnson lowered his shoulder and floored New York Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli in the Rays’ 4-1 victory on Saturday.
Cervelli broke his right wrist while making the tag, and Yankees manager Joe Girardi was angry with the aggressive play.
“I think it’s uncalled for,” Girardi said. “Spring training, you’re going to get people hurt, and that’s what we got, we got Cervelli hurt. It’s one thing to get hit by a pitch, it gets away, but, I don’t understand it.”
The 22-year-old Cervelli, who was also hit by a pitch from David Price in the seventh inning, was to be fitted with a cast and will be out an undetermined length of time.
Johnson said it was his job to try and score.
“His left foot was right there blocking the plate, and my options were either hook around and slide, I thought that would probably have taken too much time and I would have been out,” Johnson said. “The time that I had there, the instinct was slide and be out or hit it him and see if I can pop the ball loose.”
Johnson does understand Girardi’s point of view.
“Hopefully he’s OK,” Johnson said. “I’m not trying to hurt anybody. But I’m trying to show these guys what I can do, and I was just trying to score the run. Looking back at it, I’d have to say I’d probably do the same thing.”
Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon declined to address Girardi’s comments.
Price, the No. 1 pick in the June amateur draft, struck out the side after hitting Cervelli in the seventh.
“Unbelievable. It was a good time,” Price said. “It was not the way I wanted to start my major league career by hitting the first guy I face.”
Price hit Cervelli on a 2-2 pitch. He threw last nine of his 12 pitches for strikes.
Yankees starter Mike Mussina allowed one run and two hits in 2 2-3 innings.
“For two outings now, I know for the most part where the ball is going,” Mussina said. “I’m not disappointed in the first two outings.”
Tampa Bay’s Matt Garza gave up one hit over three scoreless innings.
Rays left-hander Brian Anderson allowed one hit during a scoreless innings in his first game action in more than two years. He has spent past the two years rehabbing from two elbow ligament replacement surgeries.
“It was so exciting to be out there again,” Anderson said. “It was everything I was hoping for. Physically I felt good. Felt like we’re making progress, but it’s a long time coming.”
Notes
Jonny Gomes and Hector Gimenez hit solo homers hit for the Rays. … Yankees LF-DH Hideki Matsui (stiff neck and knee) is scheduled to play for the first time this year Sunday against Minnesota. … New York RHP Chien-Ming Wang threw 75-pitches during a 25-minute bullpen session two days after allowing six runs in two-thirds of an inning against Cincinnati. The expected opening-day starter worked on the balance point of his delivery. “Better at the end,” Wang said. … Tamap Bay LHP Scott Kazmir (left elbow strain) is scheduled to throw off a bullpen mound Monday. … Rays OF-DH Rocco Baldelli (legs) didn’t play for the fourth straight game, … The Yankees reassigned RHPs Dan McCutchen, Steven White, Steven Jackson, Scott Strickland and Mark Melancon to their minor league camp.
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