BRADENTON (620 WDAE) -- Erasmo Ramirez allowed just one earned run in four innings of work, but a pair of errors led to two unearned runs in the first four frames, as the Tampa Bay Rays fell to the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-0 at LECOM Park (formerly McKechnie Field).
Ramirez had a 1-2-3 first inning working, but John Jaso doubled in front of right-fielder Shane Peterson and scored when David Freese's ground ball went through the legs of minor-leaguer Alec Sole at third base for an error.
The game stayed 1-0 until the fourth, when Freese reached on an infield single to start the inning, and took second on a single by Phil Gosselin. Chris Stewart then singled in Freese to make it 2-0, and when Mallex Smith's throw from center went to the backstop then nearly caromed into the Pirates' dugout, Gosselin also came home for a 3-0 lead.
Pittsburgh set the score in the eighth with a sacrifice fly by Gosselin off reliever Diego Moreno scored Jason Rogers for a 4-0 advantage.
Tampa Bay returns to Charlotte Sports Park Friday to welcome the Boston Red Sox. Blake Snell is scheduled to start against Shawn Haviland. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05, with coverage on WDAE starting at 12:30 with Countdown to Opening Day.