Sturtze a winner at last

RAYS 4, JAYS 2: The 16th time's the charm for starter, who goes seven for first victory of season.

By KEVIN KELLY, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published June 27, 2002

ST. PETERSBURG -- He pushed aside the miniature Buddhas and dug under the Santa Claus figurine to find the two items he sought most.

When Tanyon Sturtze's right hand emerged from the locker containing various good-luck charms given to him by well-wishers, a rosary that Pope John Paul II had blessed dangled from his fingers and a silver medal of St. Michael lay pressed inside his palm.

"I had both of them in my back pockets tonight," the Rays starting pitcher said Wednesday. "And it looks like those two are going to be in my pockets for a while."

Winless through 15 starts this season and two losses from tying a record for the longest losing streak by a Rays pitcher, Sturtze got his first win of 2002 as the Rays beat Toronto 4-2 at Tropicana Field.

Whether it was divine intervention or simply the combination of good pitching and timely run support that led to the win before 10,154 fans really didn't matter.

"I'm just glad it's over," said Sturtze (1-8), who allowed two runs on seven hits over seven innings. "When you don't have (a win) and it's been so long, we're going on our third month now, it's just nice to finally get it over with."

Tampa Bay's 2001 MVP and opening-day starter worked out of two potentially streak-continuing jams in the fourth and sixth innings for his first victory since Oct. 6.

A four-run sixth inning, highlighted by a two-run homer by designated hitter Aubrey Huff that gave the Rays the 4-2 lead, and two scoreless innings of relief from Travis Phelps and Esteban Yan ensured the end to not only Sturtze's streak but Tampa Bay's six-game skid.

"(Sturtze) held them in check, which gave us enough at-bats to put something together," manager Hal McRae said. "The game didn't get away from us and it didn't get away from him. We were within a swing of the bat of tying the ballgame."

The Rays had not exactly provided ample support for Sturtze when it was his turn to pitch.

He had the third-worst run support per nine innings in the majors (3.05) entering Wednesday. Only Jeff D'Amico of the Mets (2.87) and Mark Redman of the Tigers (2.98) had received less offensive assistance.

"The way he's pitched this year, especially the last four or five outings, he's really kept us in games, he deserves some more wins than he's got," Huff said. "You really want to get that win for him. It's been a long year for him and he's been pitching real well for us."

But Sturtze aided in his own failures.

He had allowed more hits (124) and baserunners (169 in 971/3 innings) than any American League pitcher and ranked among the leaders in walks (47) and runs allowed (61) entering Wednesday.

"When things were going like they were going, it's hard to come walking in (the clubhouse)," Sturtze said. "You feel like you let these guys down when you don't win baseball games and don't give them a chance. It's going to feel a lot better coming to the ballpark (today) than it has the last few months."

Sturtze walked two and allowed a run on a double by Jose Cruz in the first inning and allowed another run in the third. But he then worked out of two-on, two-out jams in the fourth and sixth innings before pitching a perfect seventh.

"He had an 0-8 record but that is not the type of pitcher he is," Toronto designated hitter Tom Wilson said. "He can dominate a lineup like he did tonight."

Blue Jays pitcher Steve Parris, making his third start since coming off the 60-day disabled list after arm surgery in July, also was dominating.

He allowed a hit in the first inning but then retired 10 in a row before walking Huff to lead off the fifth. Parris retired the next three before allowing a leadoff homer by third baseman Jared Sandberg in the sixth inning.

After a walk by centerfielder Randy Winn and a single by Brent Abernathy, first baseman Steve Cox drove Winn home on a sacrifice fly to tie the score. Two batters later, Huff homered.

"The guys on the mound pitched well enough to keep us right there in the game and we were able to come through with a few big hits and have a big inning," Abernathy said. "We played well defensively. It was a good ball game. Any win for the club is a good win."