On verge of rally, Rays do the expected

O'S 2, RAYS 1: Bases-loaded double play in ninth caps 40th loss by one or two runs.

By MARC TOPKIN, Times Staff Writer

© St. Petersburg Times
published August 22, 2002

BALTIMORE -- The difference in a close game often can be analyzed down to one pitch.

Wednesday it was the last pitch.

With the bases loaded and one out, Baltimore reliever Buddy Groom pitched a full-count slider. Steve Cox hit into a game-ending double play. The Rays lost 2-1.

It was the 40th time the Rays lost by one or two runs, and the 37th time they did so despite getting the tying or winning run to the plate in the ninth.

"It's crazy," Cox said. "It's just the way it's been all year. It's very frustrating."

It also was the latest example of what manager Hal McRae talks about all the time: how the Rays need to learn how to come through with the big hit or the key pitch when the game is on the line.

How the youngest team in the majors needs to learn how to win.

"It comes into play in all close ballgames," McRae said. "We didn't execute tonight and it cost us the ballgame. We've got to get over the hump.

"We are getting better, and maybe over time that will translate into wins. I think the players know what they need to do. You don't just come out here and play. You've got to figure some things out, which they're starting to understand and are trying to do."

Next, of course, is actually doing it.

"And being consistent with it," McRae said. "First off you need to learn what you've got to do and how to do it. And the more players learn what they need to do to win, the better club we are. It's just a little bit from here and a little bit from there. Nobody has to carry the club. Nobody has to do wonderful things day in and day out. Everyone has to contribute in small ways."

Victor Zambrano did his part for the first six innings of his fourth start, but he fizzled in the seventh of what had been a 1-1 game. He gave up three consecutive one-out singles, though an impressive throw from rookie leftfielder Carl Crawford to the plate nailed Chris Richard and kept the score tied. "I was just hoping," Crawford said.

But Zambrano, who was moved to the rotation after immense bullpen struggles and now says he wants to be a starter, lost his touch, as well as the strike zone. He walked Melvin Mora on four pitches to load the bases, then Jerry Hairston on four to force in what became the winning run.

"I was going to throw fastballs inside no matter what happened," Zambrano said. "I didn't want the ball down the middle."

McRae got the six innings he was hoping for from Zambrano, but he sent him out for the seventh because he'd only thrown 86 of a planned 100 pitches. "He was throwing the ball well enough to go back out," McRae said. "But he sort of lost it at the end."

Zambrano threw 51 balls among 102 pitches, but he ended up with a decent line -- 62/3 innings, 2 runs, 5 hits, 6 walks, 6 strikeouts -- and a decent review.

"He's getting better and he's gaining confidence, so someone that appeared to be lost maybe is not lost," McRae said.

The Rays had their usual troubles with Baltimore starter Rodrigo Lopez, who has beaten them four times (with a 1.61 ERA) on his way to an AL rookie-high 14 wins. They didn't get a hit until there was one out in the fourth, when Crawford bunted his way on and scored on Jared Sandberg's double, and didn't get another runner past second until the ninth.

The final inning unfolded in a way that had to look familiar to the Rays, with a closer struggling to protect a lead. But this time, the roles were reversed.

Baltimore's Jorge Julio had Crawford struck out for the second out, but the ball bounced away, allowing Crawford to first, then second on a wild pitch. Julio walked Aubrey Huff and Sandberg to load the bases. With Cox and Ben Grieve coming up, the Orioles called on the left-handed Groom, who had allowed a .176 average (13-for-74) to lefties.

"I think everyone was hoping they'd leave the other guy in to prove he should keep his closer's job," Grieve said.

Groom worked the count full, then surprised Cox with a slider that he grounded to second for a game-ending double play, the Rays fourth of a frustrating night.

"That guy must have a lot of confidence in his pitches," Cox said. "He threw me two sliders for balls and the only thing he threw for a strike was his fastball. Then he comes 3-2, bases loaded, with a slider and I went, 'Oh, boy.' That's pretty impressive."