Ben Zobrist homers in Rays' 6-4 loss to Pirates
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Ben Zobrist homered leading off a three-run sixth inning Friday for Tampa Bay, but Stefan Welch hit a three-run homer in his first spring training at-bat to help the Pittsburgh Pirates beat a split squad 6-4.
Welch, a third baseman who played last season at Double-A, hit a towering shot to right field off Dane De La Rosa.
The Rays scored three runs to take a 4-3 lead in the sixth inning. Zobrist homered, and Luke Scott and Shelley Duncan had RBI doubles.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Pirates starter Jeanmar Gomez allowed one run and three hits in four innings. The right-hander, who's in the hunt for the No. 5 starter job, walked one and struck out two.
Rays starter Alex Cobb worked 6 1-3 innings and gave up thre runs on five hits. He walked three and struck out five.