PORT CHARLOTTE (AP) -Troy Percival pitched a hitless inning in his first action of spring training, and the Tampa Rays beat the Philadelphia Phillies 3-2 Thursday.

The 39-year-old closer is coming back from an injury plagued season. He made three trips to the disabled list because of hamstring and knee injuries and missed most of September and the postseason because of a lower back injury that required surgery in November.

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``It was a step,' Percival said. ``I was actually forcing myself to mentally throttle back and throw my pitches, but I'd let a couple go, so the next time I'll do a little bit more. I'm gonna take it a step at a time.'

Percival, who is eighth in saves with 352, said he will be ready by opening day.

``There's not a doubt in my mind,' he said.

Rays manager Joe Maddon is beginning to believe that.

``He looks very good to me,' Maddon said. ``I don't see any kind of hesitation or restriction. So, I think he's in really good shape.'

Percival entered the game in the fifth and faced Ryan Howard, Geoff Jenkins and Gregg Dobbs.

Howard and Jenkins tapped pitches out in front of the plate that catcher Dioner Navarro easily fielded. Dobbs bounced to first baseman Carlos Pena, forcing Percival to run and cover the bag, which he did with ease.

``At first you're thinking it might not be a blessing (for the) first outing after surgery to see Howard, Geoff and Dobbs,' Percival said. ``But it ends up being good cause they were really aggressive. I knew if I threw my pitches I'd work my way through the inning.'

Percival, who had 19 saves before the All-Star Break, converted 28 of 32 save opportunities last season. The rest of the Rays staff was 24-of-36.

Maddon said having Percival healthy this season would be a huge lift for the bullpen.

``You got that guy at the end like that it pushes everybody into different slots and it gives a little more symmetry to the game, to the bullpen,' Maddon said. ``As (the game is) in progress, as you're building to the game that night, knowing that you're building to one guy is always a better thought, an easier thought.'

James Shields worked four shutout innings of one-hit ball for the Rays. Pat Burrell went 1-for-3 with a run scored against his former team.

Chad Tracy homered and Miguel Cairo went 2-for-3 for Philadelphia.