Smoltz makes spring debut in loss to Rays

KISSIMMEE, FLORIDA - John Smoltz has been to spring training since 1988 and he says he has never taken any approach different than the one that started him on the way to 207 career wins.

He allowed five runs - three earned - in 4 2/3 innings as the Braves lost to the Tampa Bay Rays, 11-10, in a split-squad game on Saturday, but he wasn't fazed.

``I threw it well and feel really good,'' Smoltz said.

Braves manager Bobby Cox had no problem cutting Smoltz some slack.

``He was outstanding,'' Cox said. ``His pitches were close and he might have gotten some bad calls, but he has been great all spring. No problems.''

Cox pulled the hook on Smoltz after he faced seven batters in the fifth inning, when he allowed all five of his runs. Until then, he was almost unhittable.

Smoltz said he is still playing around with new pitches and didn't mind coming out in the middle of an inning. He said he feels exactly how he wants to feel two weeks away from opening day.

``I haven't tried to overthrow or make any perfect pitches,'' Smoltz said. ``I did everything I had to do today, just like I did way back at the start of my career.''

The Braves bullpen struggled.

Taylor Yates allowed five earned runs in 1/3 of an inning. The bullpen also hit five Rays in just a little more than four innings. Rays catcher Shawn Riggans suffered a break in his left hand. He was the expected choice to backup starter Dioner Navarro heading into the regular season. The Rays have little depth at the catcher position as the season draws closer.

Rays starter Jason Hammel pitched five shutout innings, walking two and allowing three hits. Hammel is a longshot for the vacant No. 5 starting spot in the Rays rotation. Calvin Medlock got the win despite allowing five runs in the Braves seven-run eighth that tied the score at 10.

Tampa Bay won it in the top of the ninth when Elliott Johnson singled home Erold Andrus, who was pinch running for Riggans after he was hit by the pitch.

Carlos Pena homered in the fifth inning off of Smoltz and Corky Miller hit an eighth-inning grand slam off of Medlock that tied the score.

NOTES: Johnny Gomes and Evan Longoria, both involved in last weeks bench-clearing brawl with the New York Yankees, traveled with the Rays to Kissimmee while the Rays split-squad team visited the Yankees in Tampa. ... Tom Glavine will start for the Braves on Sunday in Jupiter against the St. Louis Cardinals.