Later, Sandberg still incredulous

By MARC TOPKIN, Times Staff Writer

© St. Petersburg Times
published June 12, 2002

ST. PETERSBURG -- Twenty minutes after the game ended, Jared Sandberg still hadn't fully realized the magnitude of his accomplishment.

With two swings, one at changeup, the other at a slider, Sandberg did something no Ray, and no other Sandberg, had done: hit two home runs in an inning.

[Times photo: Michael Rondou] Jared Sandberg, center, gets congratulated by Ben Grieve after his second homer in the fifth inning, a three-run shot.

"Two home runs in one inning? I could joke around and say (I did it) in a Whiffle ball game or something, but that's a dream, especially to do it in a major-league game," Sandberg said. "It's pretty amazing."

Sandberg is the 39th major-leaguer to hit two home runs in an inning, the 16th American Leaguer, and the first since Seattle's Mike Cameron and Bret Boone did it May 2 at Chicago.

"It's great to be part of history," Sandberg said.

His uncle, Ryne Sandberg, put together Hall of Fame credentials with the Cubs, but never hit two homers in an inning.

WINN TOO: With a double and a homer, Randy Winn tied an AL record with eight extra-base hits over three straight games. Seattle's Alex Rodriguez did it April 18-20, 1998, and Chicago's Earl Sheeley May 20-22, 1926.

Winn also logged his third career leadoff homer (and second in three games). He has matched his career high with six homers for the season and has done so in 237 at-bats. In 1,229 previous at-bats, he had 10 home runs.

Winn raised his league-leading home average to .370.

RAYMOND REPORT: Mascot Raymond has a separated right shoulder and will be limited to signing autographs and catching ceremonial first pitches for an unspecified period.

Raymond was knocked over by a man who ran on the field after Sunday's game. St. Petersburg police are investigating the incident as a battery and will send the case to the state attorney to decide if charges should be filed. "Raymond's going to be giving a lot of low-fives the next couple weeks," Rays trainer Jamie Reed said.

HUFFIN': Aubrey Huff will stay in the lineup when the Rays on Friday open a stretch of nine games without the DH. "The way he's swinging the bat, he has to play," manager Hal McRae said.

Huff has been taking infield practice at third and is likely to get most of his playing time there, ahead of Sandberg. He also may replace slumping Steve Cox for a day or two at first. "I just want to get in there and play every day," Huff said. "That'd be great."

ALL-STAR NEWS: Ben Grieve is sixth among outfielders with 212,006 votes in the latest All-Star balloting. Cox, fifth among first basemen with 117,416, is the only other Ray in the top five at his position.

INJURED PITCHERS: Bobby Seay, sent to Double-A Orlando last month after missing the start of the season with shoulder soreness, is on the minor-league disabled list with a slight muscle strain in his left elbow. "The doctor said it's all muscle and the joint is fine," Reed said. ... Delvin James, on the disabled list a month with shoulder tendinitis, "should be ready to go" after throwing in the bullpen today, Reed said.

READY TO ROLL: Second-round draft pick Jason Pridie signed for an approximate $800,000 and could not be more excited to start playing for the rookie level Princeton, W.Va., team. "It's so awesome," he said from his Arizona home. "I can't wait to get out there. I'm pumped."

IN HIS THOUGHTS: Pitcher Joe Kennedy wore No. 32 on his hat in tribute to teammate and roommate Nick Bierbrodt, who is recovering from gunshot wounds: "It's something I wanted to do. In my mind, my emotions were with him out there today."

MISCELLANY: After going a major-league-record 194 games without a complete game, the Rays have four in their past 21. ... The Rays ended their streak of allowing a homer in 11 straight games.

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