The Phillies concluded their spring schedule the same way they started it: with a loss.
The Tampa Bay Rays beat the Phillies this afternoon by a score of 9-7 in a game that was affected very much by strong winds.
Cole Hamels got the start for the Phils and struggled from the outset. He was charged with six earned runs on six hits in five innings of work.
While he struck out seven and walked only one, Hamels was hit hard in the first inning and yielded two home runs.
Pat Burrell, from his usual leadoff spot, smacked one of his former teammate's offerings into the left-field stands to get it all started, giving the Rays a quick 1-0 lead. Carlos Pena followed later in the inning with a three-run shot that bounced off of the right-field foul pole.
After the Phillies struck back with a pair of two-run longballs from Raul Ibanez and Greg Dobbs in the fourth inning, Hamels was hit up for two Rays runs in the fifth inning.
Jason Donald hit a home run late in the game to cut Tampa's lead to one run, but the Rays responded with two more scores in the seventh inning and held off a Phillies comeback form there.
After the game, the Phillies announced that they had officially purchased the contract of Miguel Cairo, finalizing their 25-man roster.
From this point on, the games will count for real. The Phillies will send Brett Myers to the mound tomorrow night when the Atlanta Braves come to town.
This was originally posted on Macho Row
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