Kennedy, Rays out of rhythm to start second half

RANGERS 12, RAYS 6: Texas scores early and often, then holds on as Tampa Bay stages a late rally to make it respectable.

ST. PETERSBURG - Joe Kennedy pitched for the Devil Rays on Thursday.

Or was it the Braves? Or Reds? Or Royals?

Kennedy's name has popped up in trade rumors in what seems like every English-speaking publication in the world the past several weeks. If a city has a major-league team, then a grapevine has Kennedy going there.

He was wearing a Rays uniform Thursday, but he might have been on display for a dozen or so teams looking to bolster their pitching staffs before the July 31 nonwaiver trade deadline.

If that was the case, scouts from around the league needed to show up early, because Kennedy didn't last long. His lost summer grew longer when he was knocked around by Texas in a 12-6 loss before 11,366 at Tropicana Field.

"When you give up (eight) runs, I don't think your name is going to be in any trade rumors," Kennedy said.

Still, Kennedy's name is out there despite what has been a difficult season. He spent more than a month on the disabled list with a shoulder injury. When healthy, his numbers have been far below what the Rays expected from their opening day starter. He is 3-6 with a 6.08 ERA and hasn't won since May 13.

On top of that, mix in a few unsettling trade rumors.

"It's not something I think about," Kennedy said. "It's a part of baseball. Until it happens, it happens. I don't think it makes any difference in pitching from one game to another if you see your name in the paper."

Kennedy's name in today's paper is next to a troubling pitching line: 42/3 innings, nine hits, eight runs - seven earned - and two homers allowed. He retired the first six batters he faced, but got only eight of the next 19 out. Along the way, he gave up seven extra-base hits, including long homers by Donnie Sadler and Marcus Thames.

"I got the ball up; couldn't hit any of my spots," Kennedy said.

The start was only Kennedy's second since coming off the disabled list, and perhaps in part, describes his inability to get into a rhythm.

"We left him out there as long as we could trying to get him work," manager Lou Piniella said. "I was expecting a good game from him, I really was."

It didn't happen and the Rays started the second half with their worst loss since, well, the last game of the first half. After getting pounded 13-2 by Seattle on Sunday, the Rays have allowed 25 runs in two games.

Even the final was a bit deceiving. The Rays fell behind 8-0 and scored all six of their runs in the final three innings, when the game already was out of hand.

"We just got started too late," Piniella said. "We fell too far behind."

Texas starter John Thomson held the Rays to seven hits and three runs in 72/3 innings. He struck out nine and walked none.

Kennedy will take the mound again Tuesday, hoping to turn his season around.

"Pitching is all about rhythm," Kennedy said. "I feel good (physically). I just want to get back into some sort of groove and roll with it."