Perfect debut helps put Jimenez at ease

TORONTO -- All Jason Jimenez hoped for was to throw a strike.

He accomplished that and more Monday.

The rookie left-hander, recalled from Triple-A Durham on Saturday, made his major-league debut against the Blue Jays and tossed a perfect eighth.

"I was like, "Let's just get it done now,' " Jimenez said. "I'd been sitting there for two days just waiting and waiting. I'm just glad to get it out of the way. Now I can relax a bit and just pitch."

What role he'll assume in the bullpen has not been determined.

"He looked good, kept the ball down and had a good breaking ball," manager Hal McRae said. "(He'll fit) somewhere in the middle right now until he shows me where he should pitch.

"It's wide open. He's got an open field."

The Rays chose Jimenez in the 28th round of the 1997 draft, and the 26-year-old from California progressed from short-season Class A in 1997 to Triple A last season.

"When I get back to the hotel I'll do all that stuff," Jimenez said when asked if he planned on calling his family. "Being in Canada, my cell phone is on digital roam so it's a little expensive."

EXPERIENCE COUNTS: He never played in the big leagues.

But where new Blue Jays manager Carlos Tosca clearly has an advantage over fired predecessor Buck Martinez is managing experience: 1,759 minor-league games.

"There's no substitute for managing to learn how to do it," McRae said. "The difference of a guy that's played in the big leagues and hasn't played in the big leagues will be determined by the players."

McRae played 2,084 games in the majors and was a hitting instructor for the Royals, Pirates and Expos before Kansas City hired him to manage in 1991.

"Naturally everybody would benefit from managing," he said. "I would've benefited."

STILL LEARNING: Rookie reliever Steve Kent met with McRae over the weekend. The left-hander has allowed five runs, walked five and struck out two in his past 42/3 innings.

"He's got to trust his fastball and throw his slider," McRae said. "He's fallen in love with the changeup."

Kent has allowed opponents a .324 batting average in the first 15 pitches he throws during an outing. He improves significantly the longer he stays on mound: .242 from pitches 16-30, .125 from pitches 31-45.

GONE HOME: Bench coach Billy Hatcher took over for Tom Foley as the third-base coach because of a family emergency. Foley made the trip with the team but flew home to Orlando on Monday morning to be with his father, Larry, who is ill.

ROSTER MOVES: The Rays activated pitcher Bobby Seay from the 60-day disabled list and optioned him to Double-A Orlando. To make room for Seay on the 40-man roster, minor-league infielder Ramon Soler was designated for assignment.

MINOR MATTERS: Pitcher Mark Malaska of Class A Bakersfield was named California League player of the week after going 2-0 with a 1.20 ERA.

Class A Charleston pitcher Jarod Matthews, closer Austin Coose and outfielder Irwin Centeno were named to the South Atlantic League All-Star team.

ODDS AND ENDS: Pitcher Delvin James, on the DL since May 9 with right shoulder tendinitis, allowed one run on three hits in an extended spring training start Monday. He threw 33 pitches and is scheduled to throw in the bullpen Wednesday. ... Steve Cox's single in the first inning broke an 0-for-10 streak. ... Brian Butterfield was hired as Toronto's third-base coach. The 44-year-old, fired as manager of the Triple-A Columbus Clippers last month, was an assistant at Eckerd College during the 1980-81 seasons and managed the Tampa Yankees last season.