Evan Longoria remains hot at the plate

Tigers shell Rays pitching for 15 hits

ST. PETERSBURG - OCTOBER 03: Infielder Evan Longoria #3 of the Tampa Bay Rays smiles after his third home run of the night against the Baltimore Orioles during the game at Tropicana Field on October 3, 2012 in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Photographer: J. Meric/Getty Images
Copyright 2012 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Regular Photo Size

Posted: 02/28/2013

By: Associated Press

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - Evan Longoria had two hits in his second spring game in the Tampa Bay Rays' 11-2 loss to the Detroit Tigers on Thursday.

Longoria improved to 4 for 5 at the plate this spring after getting off to a late start following offseason back surgery.

Austin Jackson hit a two-run homer, Nick Castellanos had three hits with an RBI and Anibel Sanchez pitched three scoreless innings in his second start of the spring for Detroit. Jackson had two of the Tigers' 15 hits.

Castellanos, the Tigers' top prospect, is not likely to earn a spot on Opening Day, but the former first-round draft pick and left fielder continues to impress with six hits in nine at bats.

Sam Fuld, coming off an injury-marred 2012, hit a two-run triple for Tampa Bay.

Reigning AL MVP Miguel Cabrera contributed two hits for the Tigers, including an RBI double