Lecture is taken to heart

RAYS 8, JAYS 6: After pregame talk from Hal McRae, Tampa Bay puts together 16 hits.

By KEVIN KELLY, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published June 6, 2002

[AP photo] Rays starter Wilson Alvarez delivers en route to his first win of the season, allowing two runs in six innings against the Blue Jays. In Alvarez's previous start this season against Toronto, he pitched into the sixth April 14 before pulling a muscle in his rib cage and going on the DL.

TORONTO -- The sheet of paper that announced the pregame meeting in black marker was posted in the most conspicuous place of all in the Rays clubhouse: above that night's lineup card.

"I think everybody was kind of just wondering what it was going to be about," centerfielder Randy Winn said.

Moments after batting practice concluded Wednesday, 14 players walked past the announcement and filed into the trainer's room, where they propped themselves against the walls or on tables.

Manager Hal McRae had something to say.

"He told us just to have fun, relax and play the game the way you know you can play it," third baseman Jason Smith said. "I think we took it to heart."

Statistically one of the worst offensive ballclubs in the major leagues, the Rays awoke from their offensive slumber and beat the Blue Jays 8-6 at SkyDome with the help of 16 hits.

Tampa Bay has scored eight or more three times in the past 19 games.

"I was happy to see it," McRae said. "I hope it continues. ... I think it takes a while to know if we're on the right track. We can't assume anything from one ballgame.

"But I'll sleep better tonight and (hitting coach) Milt May will sleep better tonight. We're looking forward to tomorrow."

All but two Tampa Bay starters had a hit -- even they reached on walks -- and Winn tied a career high and club record with four. Rookies Felix Escalona and Smith had five hits and four RBIs between them.

The victory broke a five-game losing streak and gave starter Wilson Alvarez, who missed two seasons after surgery on a partially torn rotator cuff, his first win in 1,010 games.

"Thanks to these guys," Alvarez said. "They're the heroes, not me. They scored a lot of runs."

The left-hander, who's in the final year of a five-year, $35-million contract, didn't need many runs in his fourth start this season. He allowed two on six hits and struck out five before 13,643.

"It's been frustrating," Alvarez said of his lengthy comeback. "When (the Rays) signed me they trusted me. They thought I was going to be there every five days and I haven't been.

"I owe them. I feel I have to go out there and do the best I can because that's the only way to pay them back."

The Rays scored eight on 11 hits in the second through fourth innings. They had two runs and 10 hits in their past two games combined.

With a .248 average with runners in scoring position and a lack of power and speed, the Rays have presented a less than formidable challenge for opposing pitchers.

They were batting an AL-worst .233 through Tuesday and had stranded 62 runners while converting 65 hits and 21 walks into 20 runs over the past six games.

Though McRae didn't offer specifics about the solutions he presented in the meeting, several areas needed to be addressed. Among them: being more patient, putting fastballs in play and having fun.

The latter has been hard to do considering the Rays have lost 10 of their past 13 games.

"I think it was important for us to just relax and try to have fun and not worry about the consequences of, let's say, you don't get a hit that at-bat. Don't take it out on the field," Winn said. "Just go out, take your at-bats. If you get a hit, you get a hit. If you don't, you don't."

The mood in the dugout was noticeably more upbeat Wednesday.

Alvarez's outing surely added to the good vibes.

In his second start since coming off the disabled list for a strained muscle in his rib cage, Alvarez threw 57 of 87 pitches for strikes.

"This is like starting all over again," he said.

Injuries have defined Alvarez the past couple of seasons.

His last injury-free season was 1997, when he went 13-11 with a 3.48 ERA. He has pitched in 57 games since. That doesn't include the 19 minor-league rehabilitation and extended spring training starts he made in 2000 and 2001 after surgery on his left shoulder.

"It was a good offensive night," McRae said. "It just happened. We were getting better swings and better pitches to hit. It's tough to say (why)."

Today's lineup

Rays