PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla., March 19 (UPI) -- Gabe Kapler homered on Tom Martin's first pitch in the bottom of the ninth inning Tuesday to give the Texas Rangers a 5-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in exhibition action.
Dan Miceli pitched a scoreless ninth for the win, finishing a five-hitter. Dave Burba started for the Rangers and allowed just one earned run and two hits with no walks and a strikeout over six innings.
Reliever John Rocker had blown a lead for the Rangers in the seventh, allowing a two-run homer to Russ Johnson. Jay Powell followed Rocker with a scoreless eighth.
Martin took the loss after Travis Harper struck out four over two hitless innings. Devil Rays starter Paul Wilson gave up just one run and six hits over 4 1/3 innings before Victor Zambrano yielded three runs in 1 2/3.
Kevin Sefcik and Greg Vaughn added RBI for the Devil Rays.
