PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (AP) -- Evan Longoria hit a two-run double and Cesar Ramos looked sharp on the mound, sending the Tampa Bay Rays to a 5-4 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Thursday night.
Tampa Bay improved to 14-4-2 this spring, the best record in the Grapefruit League. The Rays have allowed 69 runs, fewest in the majors.
Ramos, trying to win the fifth spot in the rotation, struck out six in 4 2-3 scoreless innings. He gave up four hits and a walk, throwing 64 pitches before giving way to Grant Balfour.
"Honestly, I have to say it's the best I've ever seen him pitch," Rays manager Joe Maddon said, "and I'm not just talking about the results with the zeros. The quality of pitches, the repetition of delivery -- I'm really impressed with that."
Ramos was a key left-handed arm out of the bullpen in 2013, but jumped at the chance to become a starter and impressed Thursday with a fourth-inning strikeout of Joe Mauer.
"I have to go out there and pitch the best I can because it's out of my control. If my role is better suited in the bullpen, then so be it and there you go," Ramos said. "Hopefully I made it a tough decision."
Jake Odorizzi, one of three Rays pitchers competing for the final rotation slot, took over in the sixth. He allowed four runs -- three earned -- and six hits in four innings.
Erik Bedard is also in the running for the No. 5 job. He will make his start Friday against Toronto, and Maddon said a decision could come as early as Saturday.
Scott Diamond, competing with Samuel Deduno and Kyle Gibson for Minnesota's last rotation spot, pitched 4 1-3 innings before walking the bases loaded. Brian Duensing gave up an RBI groundout to Ben Zobrist and the opposite-field double by Longoria.
Diamond was charged with three runs and five hits. He walked three.
"I don't know if it's enough," Diamond said. "I can't make that decision. That's for them to decide."
