Vernon Wells Has 5 RBI in 20-Hit Angels Attack; Jeff Niemann, Chris Gimenez Lead Rays to Win

Players of the Day for Sunday, March 11, 2012

Niemann: 3 IP, 0 H

Grapefruit League

Jeff Niemann threw three perfect innings and Chris Gimenez drove in the game-winner with a single in the bottom of the ninth as Tampa Bay downed Pittsburgh, 4-3, in exhibition action.

Chris Gimenez

Niemann struck out three in his second Spring start. Entering his 4th full year in the bigs, Niemann has a career record of 38-23 and was 11-7 last season.

Primarily a catcher, Gimenez carries a .171 batting average over 97 games in a three year career.

The win was just the third of the Spring for the Rays, against six losses. Detroit leads the Grapefruit League with a 6-1 record.

Wells: HR, 5 RBI

Cactus League

The Angels offense seems to be in good early form, banging out 20 hits in a 17-2 romp over Cleveland.

Vernon Wells and Mark Trumbo hit back-to-back homers in the fifth inning. Wells also singled in four at-bats, driving in five runs, scoring twice.

Wells hit 25 home runs for the Angels last year, but batted only .211 and drove in 66 runs.