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03/10/09 3:50 PM ET

Burrell's fifth-inning fireworks pace Rays

Veteran blasts grand slam to highlight 11-run assault against Jays

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RAYS 11, BLUE JAYS 4
at Port Charlotte, Fla.
Tuesday, March 10

Blue Jays at the plate: Joe Inglett singled to start the game. Russ Adams and Travis Snider then followed with back-to-back doubles in a three-run first inning. Curtis Thigpen then hit a solo home run off Lance Cormier in the fourth inning.

Rays at the plate: Tampa Bay got back-to-back doubles by Jon Weber and Reid Brignac to lead off a two-run first. Pat Burrell hit his first home run of the spring, a grand slam, in the fifth inning to put the Rays up, 7-4. For the second time this spring, Ray Sadler delivered a home run that cleared the boardwalk in left field.

Blue Jays on the mound: Matt Clement made his second Grapefruit League start, not including an outing vs. Team USA in relief, and allowed two runs on four hits while walking three and striking out two in four innings of work. Clement has appeared in 238 Major League games over nine years, and he is contending for one of the two open spots in the starting rotation.

Rays on the mound: Matt Garza made his first start and allowed three runs on three hits with one strikeout in two innings of work. Brian Shouse pitched an inning and allowed two hits while striking out two. Of note, both of Shouse's strikeouts came against left-handers, which was good news considering he was signed specifically to retire lefties. Andy Sonnanstine pitched an immaculate fifth inning in his first outing. Top prospect David Price pitched two scoreless innings in his first appearance.

Grapefruit League records: Blue Jays 6-5; Rays 6-6

Up next: The Blue Jays will host the Pirates on Wednesday afternoon at 1:05 ET in Dunedin, Fla. Staff ace Roy Halladay will start for Toronto, and he will be opposed by Paul Maholm.

The Rays will be off Wednesday before hosting the Phillies on Thursday afternoon at Charlotte Sports Park in a 1:05 ET contest. Opening Day starter James Shields will start for Tampa Bay, and Troy Percival will be among those following Shields. For Percival, the outing will be his first of the spring, which means it will be his first game since having back surgery in December.

Bill Chastain is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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