Lee nears return to hit-and-miss lineup

ST. PETERSBURG - Travis Lee's importance to the Devil Rays lineup is the thing of arbitration dreams.

Through 11 games, before the first baseman went on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right oblique muscle, the Rays batted .303 and scored 62 runs. In the next 12, they batted .246 and scored 40.

After playing in an extended spring training game against Yankees minor-leaguers (and going 0-for-5) Saturday, Lee is expected to return to the lineup Tuesday when the Rays play at Minnesota.

"That's a very good thing for us," manager Lou Piniella said.

Lee, who is batting .347, said he felt no discomfort Saturday.

"I was just trying to swing and feel if I feel anything," he said. "I didn't. I feel fine."

TOP FLIP-FLOP: Second baseman Marlon Anderson and leftfielder Carl Crawford were run generators deluxe in their first games at leadoff and second, respectively. Anderson went 2-for-5, extended his hitting streak to a career-high 11 and drove in two runs. Crawford was 3-for-5 and scored twice.

"We're just going to play around with it a little bit," Piniella said. "Anderson led off for a while with the Phillies, so we're going to see what this looks like."

Crawford led off 20 times before being dropped to ninth for three games amid a 9-for-60 slump.

"When you bat leadoff you're supposed to get on base any kind of way," Crawford said. "On the road trip I wasn't doing that."

With hits in his past five games and two infield hits Saturday, he is again, although he's batting .252.

"I think I'm seeing (the ball) right now," Crawford said. "I'm trying to be more selective at the plate."

OUT PITCH: Victor Zambrano (1-2, 6.44 ERA), who pitched two scoreless innings Saturday to earn his first win since Sept.28, will remain in the bullpen for the immediate future. An off day Monday will allow Piniella to move his staff ahead one day, and the next open slot for a starter, Saturday in Detroit, likely will be filled by promoting 2001 No.1 draft pick Dewon Brazelton.

Jim Parque, who went on the 15-day disabled list April 9 with shoulder tendinitis, is an option for activation, but Piniella hinted toward Brazelton, 2-1 with a 3.20 ERA in four starts at Triple-A Durham.

BABY STEPS: John Rocker, who signed a minor-league contract April 10, expects to be assigned to Double-A Orlando on Tuesday after a final extended spring appearance. The left-hander, 28, pitched two perfect innings and struck out four Saturday against Yankees minor-leaguers.

ALL GLOVE? Shortstop Rey Ordonez had two more RBIs to increase his team-leading total to 18. He leads all major-league shortstops and is impressing his teammates.

"All you heard about Rey-Rey when he came in from New York is all he can do is field. He can't hit," Aubrey Huff said. "You look up and he's leading the team in (RBIs)."

RAYS BITS: Centerfielder Rocco Baldelli has 37 hits in April, two short of what is believed to be the rookie record for the month set by the Mariners' Ichiro Suzuki in 2001. The Rays have three more games in April. The Elias Sports Bureau's information about the record is incomplete before 1961. ... Zambrano had not made a relief appearance since July 31, when he allowed nine hits and eight runs in 22/3 innings against the Orioles. ... Nick Bierbrodt made his first career relief appearance, allowing two runs on three hits and three walks in 12/3 innings. ... Lance Carter has a win (three) or save (five) in all but two of the Rays' 10 wins. His save total ties the club season mark for rookies set by Travis Phelps in 2001.