Vaughn returns to power

By KEVIN KELLY, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published May 20, 2002

[AP photo] Greg Vaughn connects in the eighth off Orioles reliever Willis Roberts for his fourth homer in two games.

BALTIMORE -- The noticeable difference was the new-found tranquility that emerged overnight.

Greg Vaughn didn't throw equipment in frustration, didn't pace back and forth and wasn't soliciting hitting advice from anyone willing to donate such on Sunday.

The Rays designated hitter found his place on the visitor's bench at Camden Yards and sat quietly.

"He's not trying to figure stuff out," manager Hal McRae said. "That's the way he needs to go about his job. Wait for your at-bat, concentrate on what you've got to do and stop trying to figure stuff out. Stop critiquing and changing this and that."

The more placid Vaughn, who hit his first two homers of the season Saturday, gave the crowd of 37,590 a stunning encore. The 36-year-old veteran hit two more homers in a 4-0 victory against the Orioles.

"I don't know what it is," said Vaughn, who had not hit a home run since Aug. 5 entering the three-game series and now owns his first multihomer game streak. "I wouldn't have waited a week or two months into the season if I had the answer.

"I'm just going out there, trying to get good pitches and take good swings and hopefully good things will happen. This weekend that's what happened."

Vaughn's three RBIs were more than enough for spot starter Travis Harper and relief pitcher Steve Kent. They combined on a five-hit shutout, the Rays' first since Sept. 25.

"Ohhhhh, lord," first baseman Steve Cox said. "A hot Greg Vaughn is really good. He carried us the last two days. That and pitching."

The series win was Tampa Bay's first on the road this season and gave the Rays four victories in seven games since ending a 15-game losing streak on May 11.

They also are 3-3 on a road trip that now takes them west to play six against the Mariners and Athletics.

"We're playing better," McRae said. "But my main focus is that we come out and compete. ... If we keep putting ourselves in shape to win, we can turn it around and separate ourselves from the losing streak."

Making his second spot start in five days, Harper stifled the Orioles through five innings and allowed four hits for his second major-league win. Kent came in and, in his longest outing, allowed one hit in four innings to get his first career save.

"Harper and Kent pitched brilliant baseball," McRae said. "They were mixing it up. They were throwing strikes and Baltimore wasn't getting very good swings."

Vaughn did though.

His first home run of the game came in the fourth with a runner on and two outs.

A career .389 hitter against Baltimore starter Scott Erickson, Vaughn hit a 1-and-1 fastball 410 feet into the Orioles bullpen to put the Rays ahead 2-0.

They led 3-0 in the eighth when Vaughn struck again. This time he hit a first pitch off Willis Roberts. His 345th, 346th, 347th and 348th career homers traveled the total length of five football fields ... plus an extra 15 yards.

"(Saturday) night was good, but in the back of my mind I'm saying, 'Let's keep it going,' " Vaughn said. "I think that was the biggest challenge for me today. Get out there and keep your swing, keep your confidence and let's go."

A productive Vaughn can only benefit a Rays team that has lost 14 games this season by one or two runs and an offense that ranked 13th in the AL, with 158 runs, 27 homers and a .235 team batting average through Saturday.

McRae said he is thinking about moving Vaughn, who entered Saturday's game hitting a major-league low .118 through 136 at-bats, back to the cleanup spot. Cox and Ben Grieve, who have contributed 12 homers this season, would bat third and fifth.

"If he continues to swing the bat well, other guys will pick it up too," McRae said. "It takes a lot of pressure off everyone.

"It's tough when you figure we're not going to get many scoring opportunities and when you do get them you better cash in. But with guys swinging the bat well in the middle of the lineup, guys with a little juice, it gives you some relief because you know you're going to score."

Vaughn just wants to keep the good times rolling.

"It's funny. You take good swings and don't get any results. Then one little run," he said. "I'm just going to try and enjoy it."

An off day today will allow Vaughn to relax further.

Vaughn is flying home to his native Sacramento, Calif., to see his family and take in the Lakers-Kings NBA playoff game tonight.

"I'll be down there cheering my boys on," he said. "And then I'll come back Tuesday and try to go get them again."

Today's lineup

Rays