Ortiz debuts, Red Sox beat Rays

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) - David Ortiz went 0 for 3 in his first exhibition game of his final spring training, a 7-2 victory by the Boston Red Sox over the Tampa Bay Rays.

Ortiz popped out in the first against Chris Archer, flied out in the fourth off Kyle McPherson and flied out in the sixth against Jhan Martinez.

"It feels good, as usual," Ortiz said. "Just getting ready for the season."

Ortiz announced last fall on his 40th birthday that this will be his final season. Ortiz said he is maintaining the same preparation.

"I ain't changing nothing," he said.

Jackie Bradley Jr., who went 2 for 2, opened the scoring with a home run on the first pitch of the third inning from Kyle McPherson.

James Loney and Logan Morrison each had two hits for the Rays.

Boston broke open the game with three runs each in the sixth and seventh innings.

STARTING TIME

In his first outing, Archer pitched two hitless innings with one strikeout and one hit batter.

"I thought he looked good," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "Was efficient. Was trying a couple of different things. Threw some changeups."

Boston fielding a lineup with most of its projected starters.

"It was good to get positive feedback from that," Archer said,

Boston right-hander Joe Kelly, the leading candidate for the fifth spot in the rotation, gave up two hits in two scoreless innings.

"It was the first time facing hitters in a while," Kelly said. "The first couple outings you throw mainly fastballs and get a feel for a game situation again and go from there."

TRAINER'S ROOM

The Rays Steven Souza, who has been sidelined with a back injury, took batting practice on Friday.

Rays third baseman Richie Shaffer was hit in the left knee by pitch from left-hander Luis Ysla with two outs in ninth left the game. Shaffer expects to play Saturday night in Sarasota against the Orioles.

Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts was hit by a Chris Archer pitch in the first inning but stayed in the game.

Red Sox left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez, who injured his right knee on Saturday, threw on flat ground. Manager John Farrell said Rodriguez had no issues with his outing but is not yet ready to throw from a mound.

UP NEXT

Tampa Bay plays the Orioles in Sarasota on Saturday. Left-hander Drew Smyly is scheduled to start, opposed by Kevin Gausman.

Boston faces the Yankees in Tampa. Knuckleballer Steven Wright is scheduled to start, opposed by right-hander Tyler Cloyd.