Bell settles into a gem

RAYS 4, ORIOLES 2: After first batter singles off his back, starter guts out his best outing with Tampa Bay.

ST. PETERSBURG - Rob Bell wormed his way out of the first inning, but one had the feeling it was going to be an brief night for the Devil Rays starting pitcher. His first inning was that rickety, that ominous. Who knew, then, that it was just the beginning of the best start of his career?

Bell gave up a hit to the first batter he faced and another to the last, but in between he allowed none and pitched seven masterful innings to lead the Rays to a 4-2 victory Tuesday over the Baltimore Orioles before 9,123 at Tropicana Field.

"He pitched his (rear end) off," Rays third baseman Damian Rolls said. "He had his troubles, but he battled. He pitched through it."

Bell took the mound Tuesday night and had the type of first inning that gives starting pitchers nervous tics and leaves pitching coaches reaching for the antacid. The first batter of the game lined a screamer off Bell's back, leaving a welt that resembled a ripe plum after the game.

Two other batters hit balls so hard that it's a wonder they didn't knock over Rays players. Yet Bell somehow got out of the inning without giving up a run.

"It was a like a midtown Manhattan ATM surcharge," Bell said of the welt, the painful price he paid for Tuesday's victory. "I do like to get through the first and get my feet on the ground, and then everything feels right after that. You're able to calm down a little bit and settle into the game."

Settle into the game? Bell looked as if he kicked off his shoes, propped up some pillows and put up his feet up for the rest of the game. After the liner off his back, Bell didn't give up another hit until the seventh inning, when Larry Bigbie hit a two-run homer that knocked Bell out of the game. With the aid of several defensive gems, Bell, at one point, retired 13 of 14 and 18 of 21.

It was the second consecutive solid start from Bell, who is 3-2 after nearly being bumped out of the rotation after his first few starts with the Rays.

"He has shown that, at times, he can pitch good ballgames," Rays manager Lou Piniella said. "So he's really done enough to stay in the rotation and the last few times he has pitched, he has solidified his position."

That's because Bell stopped worrying about his position.

"It really gets down to focusing on pitching," Bell said. "And not worrying about if Lou is going to rip the uniform off my back or (general manager) Chuck (LaMar) doesn't want me here or (pitching coach) Chris Bosio is tired of my (stuff), but just focusing on the game.

"Not pitching consequentially."

The consequences of his performance Tuesday, though, were another Rays victory, their 20th in the past 36 games since July 3. Rolls provided most of the offense with two doubles and two RBIs. Carl Crawford drove in a run and so did Rocco Baldelli as the Rays carried a 4-0 lead into the seventh.

Jesus Colome pitched the eighth in relief of Bell and Lance Carter pitched a perfect ninth for his 20th save.

The night, though, belonged to Bell.

"Any time you give up two runs in seven innings," Piniella said, "well, that's not bad."

Considering Bell's start, the result was better than not bad.