DEVIL RAYS 8, METS 3
at Tropicana Field
Saturday, March 31

Mets at the plate: Carlos Delgado hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning on a 1-2 pitch from Rays starter James Shields; the home run was Delgado's first of the spring. Jose Valentin added a solo home run off Shields in the fifth.

Rays at the plate: Carl Crawford hit a first-inning triple, and Rocco Baldelli walked to set the table for Ty Wigginton, who homered off Mets right-hander Mike Pelfry. Dioner Navarro doubled home another run in the first to give Tampa Bay a 4-0 lead.

Mets on the mound: Pelfry had enjoyed a pretty good spring until Saturday, when he allowed eight runs on 10 hits, a home run, a walk, two hit batters and a wild pitch in four innings.

Rays on the mound: Shields started and pitched a solid five innings in his final tuneup before making his first regular-season start Thursday against the Yankees. The right-hander allowed three runs on four hits, two homers and a walk while striking out five in five innings. Shields threw 41 of his 60 pitches for strikes.

Grapefruit League records: Mets 12-21; Rays 10-19.

Up next: The Rays will travel to New York on Sunday in advance of Monday's Opening Day contest against the Yankees at Yankee Stadium at 1:05 p.m. ET. Left-hander Scott Kazmir will start for the Rays; right-hander Carl Pavano will start for the Yankees.

The Mets will travel to St. Louis to open the season against the Cardinals on Sunday night in an 8:05 contest. Left-hander Tom Glavine will start for the Mets; right-hander Chris Carpenter will start for the Cardinals.