ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — What the Rays did on Sunday was plenty good, beating Detroit 5-1 to sweep the season-opening series for the fourth time in team history.
What they didn’t do — or specifically what starter Jeffrey Springs didn’t — was even more impressive, holding the Tigers without a hit over six dazzling innings while striking out a career-high 12.
That manager Kevin Cash pulled Springs after six innings — even with the no-hitter intact — wasn’t surprising, given that Springs had thrown 81 pitches and the Rays are adamant about not overextending starters, especially early in the season.
