Slumps magnified against top pitchers

ST. PETERSBURG - It's obvious why the Devil Rays aren't winning many games. They're not scoring many runs.

In the three-game series against the Yankees, they scored two and batted .177 (17-for-96). Sunday, they had four hits, all singles, two that were ground balls that struck starter Roger Clemens and bounced away. They got only one runner as far as second base.

"We didn't swing the bats all weekend," manager Lou Piniella said. "Roger made it look easy today."

The Rays have been struggling at the plate, with several of their key young players looking tired. Rocco Baldelli has one hit in his past 14 at-bats. Aubrey Huff is one for his past 17. Carl Crawford is in a 4-for-36 skid.

The other problem is that they have been facing the top pitchers from the top teams battling for their playoff lives, losing in the past two weeks to David Wells, Mike Mussina, Derek Lowe, Pedro Martinez, Tim Wakefield, Andy Pettitte and Clemens. Plus AL Cy Young Award favorite Roy Halladay, whom they face again tonight in Toronto.

"It seems like the last two weeks we've been facing every great pitcher in baseball," veteran outfielder Al Martin said. "You've got to find a way, but it's been tough."

CENTURY CITY: A few weeks ago, it looked to be a - relatively - sure thing that the Rays would avoid a third consecutive 100-loss season. Now, after winning only three of their past 14 games, the Rays are going to need a strong finish - three wins in their final seven.

"It's coming down to the wire the same as the wild-card division race," Piniella said.

ROCKET LAUNCH: If Clemens follows through with plans to retire (and possibly pitch for the U.S. Olympic team next summer), he should remember his time against the Rays fondly. He is 10-4 with a 3.12 ERA in 19 starts against them. Only teammates Mussina and Pettitte have more wins. ... Clemens picked up his 309th win overall, 16th all-time, two behind Tom Seaver.

STRATEGIC REST: Because Victor Zambrano threw a career-high 126 pitches in his last start Wednesday, the Rays decided to give him an extra day of rest and push his next start to Tuesday. It just so happens he will avoid tonight's unfavorable matchup, giving Zambrano a better chance at his 12th win, which would be second-most by a Ray in a season.

DRY TOWN: Had the Red Sox lost at Cleveland (they won 2-0) the Yankees would have been assured of the AL East championship, since the worst they could do is finish tied with Boston and they would win any tiebreaker.

But they had no champagne on ice in the Tropicana Field clubhouse and no plans to celebrate. "Not until we win more games than the Red Sox (can), and that can't happen today," manager Joe Torre said.

CROWD CONTROL: The Rays drew 67,400 for the three-game series with the Yankees, pushing their season total to 987,664 and, with three games left, guaranteeing they won't be the first AL team under 1-million since the 1985 Indians.

CHANGE PENDING: If next weekend's games against Boston don't have an impact on the wild-card race, Piniella said rookie left-hander Jon Switzer may get a start.

MISCELLANY: Martin had a bruised right thumb after deflecting a throw to break up a double play in the second. ... The Rays went 2-9 in an 11-game stretch against the Yankees and Red Sox. ... They finished the season series with the Yankees 5-14, their most losses to New York in a season. ... Baldelli, hitless in seven at-bats against Clemens, got the day off as Piniella started seven left-handed hitters. ... The Rays have a major-league high 91 hit batters, three shy of their 2002 major-league record. ... It was the 10th time the Rays were shut out this season, and the 10th time they were swept, the fourth at home. ... After going seven games without an error, the Rays made three in their last two games.