ANAHEIM, Calif. - The last time Jeremi Gonzalez won a game, the Bucs were still considered Super Bowl champs. The Lightning hadn't stepped on the ice for the first time. And the Devil Rays thought they had one of the spots in their rotation filled pretty well.
But that was Aug. 19, when Gonzalez beat Baltimore to pick up his sixth win in what was considered a success story of a season. He made it back to the big leagues after a five-year, injury-related odyssey and established himself as the Rays' most consistent starter, pitching better and more effectively than his 6-11 record indicated.
A lot of unexpected things have happened since. The Bucs missed the playoffs. The Lightning skated its way to the Eastern Conference final. And Gonzalez evolved into one of the biggest question marks the Rays have.
Having been rewarded with a $1.7-million arbitration-avoiding contract, Gonzalez pitched so badly his first three starts, allowing 16 runs and 23 hits in 151/3 innings, that he lost his job in the rotation. But manager Lou Piniella reconsidered the next day, pitching coach Chuck Hernandez worked some magic by fixing a few mechanical flaws, and Gonzalez seemed to be straightened out, allowing only one run in 13 innings over his next two starts.
But he still hadn't won.
Thursday, he had the chance and wasted it.
The Rays handed him a 2-0 lead in the first, but he seemed determined to give it back, giving up a run in the second on three walks and a hit batter. The Rays made it 3-1 in the fourth, and he gave it away in the fifth, allowing four straight singles to start the inning as the Angels tied and went on to win 7-3.
"Oh, my God, it's real frustrating," Gonzalez said. "They score three runs for you, and you can't hold it. I have to get better at that."
Gonzalez has lost 10 straight decisions, matching the team record set by Albie Lopez during his 5-12 season in 2001, and extended his winless streak to 13 starts.
His problem Thursday was location. Five walks and a hit batter caused him as much trouble as the seven singles he allowed, and he needed 88 pitches to get 12 outs. Of the 23 batters he faced, 13 reached base.
"It's getting better," Gonzalez said. "They've got a good lineup. I tried to get a couple pitches down and in and didn't, and I paid for it."
