Tampa Bay Rays 000 000 400 4 7 1 Netherlands 010 000 020 3 6 1
Against a team of minor leaguers of the Tampa Bay Rays, including the MLB experienced Justin Ruggiano and Casey Kotchman, Cuban defector Leslie Anderson and 2008 number one draft pick Tim Beckham, the Dutch National Team lost 3-4 at the St. Petersburg Baseball International on Wednesday. The Rays scored all of their four runs in the top of the seventh against Leon Boyd (BS 1, L 0-1) and Berry van Driel. Three of them were unearned after a Raily Legito throwing error.
The Netherlands had taken a 1-0 lead in the second period, which lasted five frames. After Tampa Bay got in front, the European record title holder cut the deficit to a run in the bottom of the eighth. They also had the tying run on base in the ninth, but couldn’t bring him home. Eugene Kingsale, Legito and debutant Michael Pluijmers scored for the team of manager Brian Farley. On the mound Rob Cordemans and David Bergman held the Rays to a combined two hits and a walk in the first five scoreless innings.
Two more games are on the schedule for the Dutch National Team. On Friday they will face the St. Petersburg College. Two days later they are going to close out their Spring Training trip against the Philadelphia Phillies. Both games will be played at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg.