Bullpen falters yet again in defeat

RED SOX 3, RAYS 2: Jesus Colome allows a lead to slip away in the ninth inning, capped by catcher Toby Hall's error.

By KEVIN KELLY, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published May 4, 2002

ST. PETERSBURG -- The benched closer stretched in the Rays bullpen while another tried his trade Friday.

Jesus Colome, a 24-year-old with an arm capable of throwing a 99 mph fastball toward home plate, took the mound with a one-run lead against Boston in the ninth inning at Tropicana Field.

"I feel I can do any role in the major leagues," Colome said. "I've prepared myself to be a closer. It's probably not this year, but I feel I can do it in the future."

A day after Esteban Yan was stripped of his role as the club's closer, the first test of manager Hal McRae's closer-by-committee approach didn't turn out well.

Colome walked the second batter he faced in what turned into a two-run inning for Boston and a 3-2 loss for the Rays before an announced 12,583. Tampa Bay has lost eight in a row, the third-longest losing streak in franchise history.

"We can't feel sorry for ourselves," McRae said. "We've got to play better to win games. We're not playing good enough to win. We've got two choices. We've been knocked down, so we can get up or stay down. I'm willing to bet that we're going to get up."

The loss wasn't Colome's fault exclusively.

While he did walk Manny Ramirez on a 3-and-2 fastball and allowed a run-scoring single to tie the score at 2 in the ninth, a throwing error by catcher Toby Hall allowed the Red Sox to score the winning run.

"Everything has to mold to win a game," Hall said. "I don't care whether it's pitching, defense, hitting. Everything has to.

"If all the cards add up right, you win."

Tampa Bay, which has been outscored 44-20 in the past eight games, led 2-1 entering the ninth thanks to a two-run home run by Steve Cox in the first and a quality seven-inning outing by starter Delvin James.

"I thought Cox's home run would stand up," McRae said. "But it didn't."

James, 24, appeared close to getting his first major-league win against a team that shelled him six days earlier.

He allowed six runs in 21/3 innings at Fenway Park.

"He had good command," McRae said.

"He was getting his breaking ball over, spotting his fastball and was aggressive. It was a good outing after coming off the bad outing against the same ballclub a week ago."

James allowed one run on four hits while striking out four and walking two.

Of the 85 pitches he threw, 50 were strikes.

"I felt strong throughout the whole game," James said. "I never really felt tired.

"It's a situation where I did my job, handed it over to the bullpen. More times than not in that situation, they're going to come through."

Doug Creek pitched a scoreless eighth.

The left-hander is one of four pitchers who could be used as a closer. Colome, Yan and Zambrano are the others.

Creek has one major-league save while Zambrano earned two last year. Colome, who now has an American League leading four blown saves, still is looking for his first big-league save.

Yan, who tied for the American League lead with nine blown saves last season, was pulled after walking the first two batters he faced Thursday in Minnesota. He has a 6.57 ERA with one blown save and has allowed 17 baserunners. "Right now, (McRae) doesn't trust me," Yan said. "He's got the call. He's the manager. He knows what to do.

"I think I'm capable of working something out. When they give me the ball, I'll try to do my job. I wish good luck to everyone."

Colome retired the first batter he faced and then threw three consecutive balls to Ramirez.

With a pair of 99 mph fastballs, Colome ran the count full before walking Ramirez on a 97 mph fastball.

Brian Daubach singled to put runners on first and second.

Jason Varitek then hit a single to leftfield that Jason Tyner absorbed with his stomach on a hop. Tyner's throw home and Hall's tag were not in time to get pinch-runner Lou Merloni, who tied the score at 2.

The Rays lost on the next play when, with Carlos Baerga pinch-hitting, Hall dropped a pitch then tried to pick Varitek off at first base.

The throw short-hopped Cox and skipped into the outfield.

Daubach scored to make it 3-2.

"We're scrambling around down there (in the bullpen)," McRae said. "But we'll get that worked out. I'm going to continue to use them.

"We're searching to solve it. But we have to play better to win."