Yankees to bring electricity to Trop

ST. PETERSBURG -- The crowds will be larger, the stadium louder and the Boss bigger.

"Anytime you play in a loud atmosphere, it's a lot of fun," Rays outfielder Jason Tyner said. "That's the way it should be at a major-league baseball game."

It helps that the Yankees, the defending American League champions, are in town for a three-game series.

"They're one of the best teams in baseball," designated hitter Greg Vaughn said. "They're always going to be there at the end of the year. They have great players."

And much success against the Rays.

Owned by Tampa resident George Steinbrenner, the Yankees have a .706 winning percentage in 58 games against the Rays. They swept Tampa Bay in three games this season at Yankee Stadium, limiting the Rays to 12 hits, two runs and a .125 batting average.

"We kind of forgot it as soon as we left," Tyner said.

HISTORICALLY SPEAKING: You knew the Rays were doing something special last week losing three in a row after leading in the ninth. Turns out it hadn't happened to an AL team since the 1929 White Sox.

The 1990 Cardinals were the last NL team to suffer as much, losing once to the Pirates and twice to the Expos, and there are some interesting Rays ties to their futility. Third-base coach Tom Foley and former outfielder Dave Martinez were members of the Expos, and TV analyst Joe Magrane pitched the third game of the streak for the Cardinals.

Leading 3-1 after pitching eight strong innings, Magrane was asked by manager Whitey Herzog to pitch the ninth because closer Todd Worrell had hurt his arm. "Whitey said, "Go see what happens,' " Magrane said Monday. What happened was that Magrane loaded the bases with one out and gave up a triple to Martinez, and eventually lost 7-4. "I remember it plain as day," Magrane said.

THE AUTHOR WHO LOVED TOM GORDON: Rays radio broadcaster Paul Olden tried to do his part to help the Rays snap their losing streak.

Noting that the streak started when horror writer Stephen King was in the crowd April 25, Olden on Monday brought a copy of King's 1987 Misery to the ballpark and encouraged manager Hal McRae and other Rays to stick pins in King's back-cover photo.

"Just trying to break the curse," Olden said.

HEALING: Already scheduled to take Monday off, rightfielder Ben Grieve did not play for the second straight game.

He was scratched Sunday because of a bruise on his thumb and a minor infection in his left hand caused when a callous broke open.

"It's two things in one," Grieve said. "But it feels better today than it did yesterday."

MORE RUPE: Through six games last season, starting pitcher Ryan Rupe had a losing record and a 5.93 ERA while allowing seven home runs and 14 walks. The addition of a two-seam fastball and an improved changeup has paid dividends, particularly in his strikeout-to-walk ratio (33-5) and homers allowed (2).

MINOR MATTERS: Two Rays pitching prospects won Relief Man Awards for their performances last month.

Lee Gardner, closer for Triple-A Durham in the International League, and Evan Rust of Class A Bakersfield in the California League had 21 points and seven saves. Pitchers get three points for each save and two for each relief win and lose two for a loss.

ODDS AND ENDS: The Rays had gone 10 games without grounding into a double play entering Monday. ... Johnny Damon's infield single extended his hitting streak to 16 games, which ties his career high. ... Third baseman Russ Johnson will address students at John F. Kennedy Middle School in Clearwater at 10 a.m. today. ... Shortstop Chris Gomez and pitcher Travis Harper will honor the Hillsborough County Battle of the Books winners today at Tropicana Field.

-- KEVIN KELLY, MARC TOPKIN