A rally, then folly

YANKEES 10, RAYS 9: A go-ahead grand slam by Marlon Anderson is wasted when New York rallies for four in the ninth.

[Times photo: Michael Rondou]

Rays starter Dewon Brazelton tries to calm himself after giving up a homer in the second inning Tuesday.

ST. PETERSBURG - There wasn't much Lou Piniella could say after Tuesday's disappointing 10-9 loss to the Yankees, and he didn't bother. Piniella wandered through the mostly empty clubhouse, quietly said, "No talking for me tonight," then retreated to the coaches room, where the volume was clearly a bit higher.

The Rays left Piniella speechless for the third time this season by wasting another comeback, turning what would have been a dramatic second straight victory over the Yankees into a disheartening defeat.

It was the ninth time (of 17) the Rays have rallied from three or more runs down only to lose.

"You hate to lose these kind," leftfielder Carl Crawford said. "You kind of feel like somebody took something away from you."

The Rays overcame Dewon Brazelton's potential farewell performance and their inefficiencies to carry a 9-6 lead into the ninth after Marlon Anderson's grand slam, only to see closer Lance Carter give it away before another split Tropicana Field paid crowd of 16,300.

As big of a win as it was for the Yankees, and with George Steinbrenner considering changes it certainly was big, it was a huge loss for the Rays.

"Definitely tough," Anderson said. "It's one thing when you try to come back and you don't quite get there, but another when you do and you lose after that."

The Yankees tied the 3-hour, 52-minute game when Raul Mondesi doubled, ex-Ray John Flaherty (who homered earlier) singled, and Juan Rivera hit a 1-and-2 pitch over the centerfield fence for a three-run homer.

Carter hit Derek Jeter with one out, and Todd Zeile, replacing injured Jason Giambi, made it hurt with a run-scoring double to right-center.

Carter, who on Monday converted his first save opportunity of the month and is 12-of-17 for the season, said he just got beat.

"They're all disappointing," he said. "The offense came through and got a big hit, I didn't come through in the ninth. It's pretty obvious what happened. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out. I didn't get three outs and we lost.

"If you're looking for excuses, you're not going to get them from me. I just didn't get them out."

Until the ninth, it appeared the Rays were headed for a thrilling win, Brandon Backe coming through with solid relief and the game turning when they loaded the bases in the seventh. After Jason Tyner, pinch-hitting for Toby Hall, struck out against Al Reyes, Anderson came through, driving a 2-and-0 pitch into the rightfield seats, capping a three-hit, career-high five-RBI night.

Brazelton had problems riding the wrong train in New York last week. His next transportation dilemma may be whether he flies to Durham or drives to Orlando.

The 23-year-old rookie supposedly earned a second chance after his misadventures in New York with a solid week of work, but it didn't turn out to be much of one. The Rays had Jorge Sosa warming in the bullpen as soon as Brazelton walked the bases loaded in the first, gave Brazelton a quick hook after he opened the second by allowing a walk, a two-run homer to Flaherty and a single to Rivera.

Brazelton looked surprised when Piniella came to the mound.

"I had no idea," Brazelton said. "But I don't make the decisions. I pitch when they tell me to pitch and I sit down when they tell me to sit down."

The Rays wouldn't say if Brazelton (1-6 with a 6.89 ERA in 10 starts) will be sent down, but with Joe Kennedy expected to come off the disabled list next week, Brazelton's time in the big leagues would seem limited.

"He was all over the place," pitching coach Chris Bosio said. "He wasn't able to make the pitches when he needed to."

The Yankees scored three off Brazelton and three off Sosa, who was equally ineffective, allowing nine of the 15 men he faced in two-plus innings to reach base.

- Times staff writer Julie Wood contributed to this report.