"Three games into the Grapefruit League schedule, Manny Ramirez can do no wrong.

The mercurial 12-time All-Star made his first start in left field for the Rays in their 6-5 loss to the Pirates on Monday, caught the only ball that was hit his way in the air and went 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored.

He scored while hustling home from third on a wild pitch, sliding to beat the throw from C Dusty Brown to RHP Bryan Morris.

There was a time when Ramirez selling out in a spring game might have surprised teammates.

"I don't know, man, I just go and play," Ramirez said. "The game says 'play ball,' so I just go and play."

Manager Joe Maddon said Ramirez is "buying into everything we're trying to do here, and I like it."

Ramirez has started two of the Rays' three games — he was the DH on Saturday — and is 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI."