Yanks, Rays resume positions

YANKEES 7, RAYS 1: Tampa Bay comes out flat as New York cruises to cut its magic number to win the AL East to two.

By MARC TOPKIN, Times Staff Writer

© St. Petersburg Times
published September 19, 2002

ST. PETERSBURG -- The Rays are spending a lot of time these days thinking about their future, everything from a possible managerial change to a roster shakeup to the minor-leaguers who they hope one day will lead them to success.

The Yankees are more concerned with the present.

And just because they couldn't clinch the American League East title at the Trop this week didn't mean they wouldn't play like champions. Wednesday, they showed the Rays and a national ESPN audience exactly why they are headed to a fifth straight division title with an easy 7-1 victory.

All the energy and purpose the Rays showed in a dramatic victory Tuesday seemed to be sapped out of them by Jeff Weaver, who did a pretty good job as a late replacement for David Wells, allowing six hits over 72/3.

"We didn't generate enough offense to put up a good fight," Rays manager Hal McRae said. "If you don't score you're going to look flat. Scoring is what makes you look like you've got some energy and you're alert and you're ready to go. When you don't get any hits it's difficult to demonstrate that."

Jared Sandberg, whose eighth-inning homer accounted for the Tampa Bay run, said Weaver made a huge difference.

"You should be up for every game, especially the Yankees to try and quiet their fans in our own house," he said.

The Yankees improved to 95-56 and lowered their magic number to two, meaning they can clinch the championship as soon as Friday.

The Rays dropped to 50-101 and established a franchise record for losses in a season. (Their 50 wins are the fewest for an AL team at this point of the season since the 1979 Blue Jays also were 50-101.)

The announced paid crowd of 14,993 finally put the Rays over the 1-million mark in attendance, the 28th team to get there of the 30 major-league teams.

Once the Yankees grabbed an early lead against Victor Zambrano, the Rays didn't do much right.

And it was one thing they did wrong that stood out the most: an error by centerfielder Randy Winn on a play at second base.

The Yankees had a 3-0 lead and men on first and second when Juan Rivera singled up the middle in the fourth. First baseman Aubrey Huff cut off Winn's throw to the plate and caught Raul Mondesi off second. There was a brief rundown, but Mondesi made it safely to second when Winn, who dashed in to cover the open base, dropped shortstop Felix Escalona's throw.

"It was a good hustle play by Winn, he just took his eye off the throw," McRae said.

"I was just trying to help out," Winn said.

Because the Yankees generate so much revenue (though they will have to share more in the future), they can have the highest payroll and afford some luxuries, such as having a guy like Weaver in the bullpen.

With Wells, who has had his share of late-night misadventures, unavailable due to what was described as a stomach virus, the Yankees calmly called on Weaver, the former Detroit ace who was acquired in July.

"If that's your emergency starter out of the bullpen -- he's been the ace of a staff -- you've got a pretty deep rotation," Winn said.

Said Weaver: "I play for the Yankees and I do whatever they ask of me. They let me know that I've got to be on my toes. I'm glad I could pitch the way I have the last couple times out to show the team what I'm capable of. Something like this could happen in the postseason, so I want to be ready."