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Worley allows seven runs in loss to Rays

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Wil Myers laced three doubles, and James Loney added three RBIs as the Rays pounded out 20 hits in an 11-3 win over the Twins on Tuesday night at Hammond Stadium.

Myers, who had four hits in 10 Grapefruit League games entering Tuesday, had a big night at the plate against Twins starter Vance Worley.

Myers set the tone early with a leadoff double just two pitches into the game, and it only got worse for Worley from there. The Rays scored three runs in the first, with Loney bringing home two runs with a double before scoring on a single from Matt Joyce.

Tampa Bay added two more runs in the second on a two-run single from David DeJesus off first baseman Joe Mauer's glove with nobody out. It came after Jose Molina singled and Myers doubled.

Worley appeared to settle down in the third by getting two quick outs, but it unraveled from there, as Desmond Jennings doubled and came around to score on a single from Yunel Escobar. Molina followed with a single before Myers added an RBI double to knock Worley from the game.

It was an especially rough start for Worley, who gave up seven runs on 11 hits, including six doubles, He is competing for the fifth spot in the rotation.

"I prepared myself all week to start and everything went well in the bullpen, but I took it out there and the first inning I couldn't get the ball down in the zone," Worley said. "They hit the ball pretty much everywhere. And the second inning we tried to pound in some four-seam [fastballs], because the two-seamers were staying up in the zone, and they came in hacking. And the third inning, I thought we had everything on the right path and everything unraveled again."

Left-hander Matt Moore fared better for the Rays, surrendering one run on four hits over 4 2/3 innings with four strikeouts, but he suffered from control problems with six walks allowed.

"Everything did feel good -- minus the six walks, a solid day," said Moore. "But those are definitely a black mark on today and something we're going to continue to address. I think only one clean inning there, so definitely something to build on."

The Twins scored their lone run against Moore in the second inning on a run-scoring double play hit into by Pedro Florimon in his first at-bat since having his appendix removed on Feb. 17.

The Rays tacked on another run in the sixth against reliever Ryan Pressly, but he wasn't helped by his defense. He appeared to get out of the inning on a routine double play, but second baseman Doug Bernier's throw sailed wide to allow Evan Longoria to reach. Longoria eventually came around to score on a single from Loney.

Up next: Right-hander Kyle Gibson is slated to make his fourth Grapefruit League appearance on Wednesday against the Cardinals in a 12:05 p.m. CT game on MLB.TV across the state in Jupiter. Gibson remains in the mix for the fifth-starter spot with a 3.00 ERA in nine innings. Right-hander Carlos Martinez starts for the Cardinals.

Rhett Bollinger is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Bollinger Beat, and follow him on Twitter @RhettBollinger.
Read More: Minnesota Twins, Vance Worley