Swihart keys 9th-inning rally as Red Sox beat Rays 11-8

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (AP) Blake Swihart drove in three runs with a triple and a single in Boston's nine-run ninth inning Tuesday and the Red Sox beat a Tampa Bay Rays split squad 11-8.

The Red Sox rallied with eight hits and three walks off minor league pitchers Zach Cooper, Colton Reavis and Kyle Bird.

It wasn't quite enough to ruin the afternoon for Daniel Robertson, a 21-year-old minor league shortstop who was called over from the minor league complex to start the exhibition game for the Rays.

Robertson drove in five runs with two home runs, then went back to the minor league fields as the big-league Rays left town for the year. He was a last-minute replacement for Alexi Castilla, who was released Tuesday.

''Awesome thrill, awesome opportunity just knowing it's their last day here before they head up to Tampa,'' said Robertson, who was thrown into the five-player January trade that sent Ben Zobrist to Oakland. ''I got word that I was coming over and just played the game and had fun.''

Rays manager Kevin Cash was impressed.

''You dont ever want to lose a guy like Zobrist,'' he said. ''If youre getting something with that type of potential, it soothes it over a little bit more.''

The Red Sox got a first look at catcher Sandy Leon, who was acquired in Monday's trade with the Washington Nationals, Leon caught the first five innings and got a single in two at bats.

The Rays took an 8-2 lead into the ninth when Cooper walked Quintin Berry and Deven Marrero. Swihart followed with a two-run triple, and by the time he got up again later in the inning, Boston had taken the lead. Swihart drove in the final run of the inning with another hit before Rusney Castilla followed with his second single of the inning.

''It's a spring training game where we were able to string a number of hits together,'' said Boston manager John Farrell. ''Despite that, there was some decent things from the mound today. Defensively we were sloppy, and at this point in camp you would think that would be a little more air-tight.''

There were seven errors in at the game, four by the Red Sox.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Red Sox: Farrell expects closer Koji Uehara (hamstring) to be back no later than mid-April.

Rays: LHP Drew Smyly, shut down all spring by tendinitis, is scheduled to throw a two-inning batting practice session on Wednesday.

STARTING TIME

Red Sox: Edward Mujica pitched only the first inning, giving up an unearned run.

Rays: Minor leaguer Jim Miller gave up two hits in two shutout innings. .

UP NEXT

Red Sox: Opening day starter Clay Buchholz will get his final spring start in Fort Myers against the Twins. Steve Wright will face Toronto at home in the other half of the split- squad day. ... Leon will play in one of the games.

Rays: Minor leaguer Jordan Norberto will pitch against the Yankees in Tampa.