Rays see hope for Brazelton rebound

ST. PETERSBURG - Three years ago, Toronto pitcher Roy Halladay was such a mess that the Blue Jays sent him from the majors to Class A Dunedin.

Does something about that story sound familiar? It should. Earlier this season, the Devil Rays sent former first-round pick Dewon Brazelton from the majors to Class A Bakersfield to sort out his pitching problems.

The Rays can only hope Brazelton has the same turnaround as Halladay, who became the first pitcher in the majors this season to win 20 games with a victory against the Rays on Thursday.

Brazelton was called up from the minors on May 3 and went 1-6 with a 6.89 ERA in 10 games before being sent to Bakersfield on June 25. He spent the rest of the season in the minors.

"He threw better (after being sent down)," Rays manager Lou Piniella said. "His velocity increased some and his breaking ball got better."

The next step for Brazelton is playing fall ball.

"That will give him a head start up for spring training next year," Piniella said. "And we'll let him compete next spring for a job. What happened to him this year might be a blessing in that he knows he needs to improve in areas before he can be successful. Sometimes it takes just that. ... But I still feel that he has got a bright future."

Maybe as bright as Halladay's present.

HARPER RETURNS: Reliever Travis Harper returned to the Rays on Thursday after missing two games to attend the birth of his first child, daughter Leia Nicole.

After using Chad Gaudin and Joe Kennedy the previous two days and putting Carlos Reyes in the rotation to start the second game of Saturday's doubleheader in New York, the Rays were running a tad short in the bullpen.

Harper saved the day, though, by returning earlier than expected and pitching 12/3 innings.

"We're a little short, so I appreciate the fact that he got back here," Piniella said.

CARL-GATE: The Carl Crawford controversy died down. On Tuesday, Crawford made a few disparaging remarks about the Blue Jays, saying the lineup wasn't that difficult after Vernon Wells and Carlos Delgado. The Blue Jays were fired up about it Wednesday, but the situation appears diffused.

"(Crawford) didn't mean anything by it," Piniella said. "It wasn't meant as derogatory. It wasn't malicious. It wasn't meant the way it came out."

Still, Piniella had a talk with Crawford about being careful with what he says to the media.

"It's a lesson for a young player," Piniella said. "(He) has the highest regard for Toronto players. It just so happens this year here, we've had success against them. Who can explain it? They're a good ballclub. Look, he didn't mean to offend anybody. I can tell you that. He's a good kid."

Crawford wasn't affected on the field. He extended his hitting streak to 10 games, and 16 hits during this nine-game homestand tied a team record for most hits on any homestand. Damian Rolls had 16 hits from June 23-July 6 this season.

HALLADAY'S HOLIDAY: Halladay became the second pitcher to win his 20th game of the season against the Rays. David Cone did it for the Yankees on Sept. 26, 1998.

This is the sixth time a Jays pitcher has won 20. Halladay is the fifth to do it; Roger Clemens won 20 twice for the Jays.

MISCELLANY: Rays pitcher Jeremi Gonzalez had his team-high 14th "quality" start. ... The Rays have scored 15 runs in Gonzalez's nine losses. ... The Rays are 10-5 against the Jays with four games left against them.