Yankees deliver dose of reality

YANKEES 10, RAYS 3: Two-game winning streak ends in a game marked by a wild and tense eighth inning.

By KEVIN KELLY, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published May 15, 2002

[AP photo] Yankees batter Derek Jeter ducks away from a close pitch thrown by Tampa Bay Devil Rays reliever Jesus Colome.

NEW YORK -- The gates opened and Jesus Colome trotted from the bullpen beyond leftfield toward the pitchers mound at Yankee Stadium.

One hit batter, two outs, two walks, four hits and five runs later, the gates swung open again during the eighth inning at Yankee Stadium.

Only this time every man from both bullpens flowed onto the field to join their teammates milling around the infield during the Rays' 10-3 loss Tuesday night to the Yankees before 29,503 fans.

At the center of the disturbance were Colome and Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, who took exception to the wildness that buzzed by his head at more than 90 mph.

"It was obvious the guy couldn't find the strike zone," manager Hal McRae said. "Why he reacted that way I don't know. He threw the ball close to every batter."

The Yankees, as it turned out, didn't need the help Colome donated.

New York starter Roger Clemens held the Rays to one run on three hits in 6 2/3 innings while the Yankees offense scored four off spot starter Travis Harper and led 4-1 going into the eighth.

The Rays, who entered with a two-game winning streak and had gotten 16 2/3 scoreless innings from their bullpen, now have lost seven in a row to New York this season by a combined score of 39-10.

"You just know that every day you play these guys, you're going to be facing a top-notch pitcher," shortstop Chris Gomez said. "You have to play your best game. You make mistakes and they just pile on."

That was the case Tuesday.

Harper started because Delvin James was scratched with stiffness in his right shoulder and kept pace with Clemens early. Neither allowed a hit in the first two innings.

But Harper flinched first, walking Rondell White to lead off the third inning when the Yankees honed in and won the game on three pitches, one in the third and two in the fourth.

John Vander Wal put New York ahead 2-0 when he hit a 0-and-1 pitch to the opposite field in the third. Jason Giambi got his eighth of the season in the fourth, and catcher Jorge Posada followed with his fifth to make it 4-1.

"I left a couple of pitches up," Harper said. "If I'm able to keep those balls down, a lot changes. I probably get deeper in the game. In a way it's frustrating that I did leave a couple of pitches up and got hurt. But I made a lot of other good pitches."

Harper allowed four runs on four hits, walking one and striking out two in 3 2/3 innings.

"In his defense, I was looking for five (innings), the home runs were solo," McRae said. "When he left the game it was 4-1, which gave us a chance. Basically all you're asking from a spot starter is to give you five innings, keep you in a ballgame and give you a chance to win."

Steve Kent, making his first appearance since May 5, pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings before Colome came on to pitch the eighth.

Colome allowed a leadoff single to Jeter before getting Bernie Williams to fly out to center.

Jeter then stole second and third with Giambi up and said Colome stared him down after the second stolen base. Giambi was walked intentionally, then Colome allowed two run-scoring singles, hit Shane Spencer, gave up a two-run single and walked Alfonso Soriano.

Then it was Jeter's turn again, and Colome threw a fastball high and inside. Jeter jawed at Colome and the benches emptied.

The scene cleared relatively quickly.

"He was wild and I don't think he liked the fact that Jeter stole two bases on him," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "I think Jeter had a reason to be upset. Then I think it just got a little tense."

Speaking through a translator, Colome said: "I was very surprised over Jeter's reaction. He was just acting on his frustration. I didn't mean it."

Colome threw 39 pitches and faced 11 batters in the inning. The Rays scored two in the ninth, one on a Steve Cox homer and one on a double by Greg Vaughn.

"I tried to throw strikes and couldn't do it," Colome said. "I was a little wild. I didn't mean to hit any one of them. I had a bad outing."

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