RAYS 7, YANKEES 6: Aubrey Huff homers twice, and the bullpen nearly throws away Victor Zambrano's six-run lead.
By PETE YOUNG
Published May 31, 2004
ST. PETERSBURG - Victor Zambrano baffled the opposition while Aubrey Huff blasted a couple into the seats as Tampa Bay built a big lead. It was precisely how the Rays have envisioned winning ballgames all along.
As for that big Yankees comeback Sunday, well, um, that was part of the plan, too (cough). A little something to make it more exciting for the 26,098 at Tropicana Field (wink, wink).
The Rays nearly blew a six-run lead in the final two innings before barely holding on to beat the Yankees 7-6.
"That was a goal-line (stand) right there," said catcher Brook Fordyce, whose home run in the eighth provided the vital insurance run. "We bent, but we didn't break."
The win completed the homestand at 7-5, the best record in Rays history for 12 or more straight home games.
"Just your typical one-run win," joked Lou Piniella, who is one win shy of 1,400 as a manager. "It gives us a nice homestand. We found a way to let them get back in it, make it exciting for the fans."
Zambrano (61/3 scoreless innings) and Huff (two homers, three RBIs) were the stars as the Rays staked a 6-0 lead through seven.
Then the Yankees, who entered with the best record in baseball by a half-game over Boston and Anaheim, threatened to spoil everything. They scored four in the eighth off Jorge Sosa and Danys Baez to make it 6-4.
After Fordyce's home run off ex-Ray Tanyon Sturtze, New York needed three to tie. With two outs and pinch-runner Homer Bush on first after Tony Clark's two-run single, Baez struck out Jorge Posada for his eighth save. Baez struck out the pinch-hitting Posada for a crucial out in the eighth.
The best news Sunday was the continued resurgence of the Rays' best hitter, Huff. He tallied an RBI in the fourth, fifth and sixth on two home runs and a lined single. Both homers, his sixth and seventh of the season, were to rightfield off Yankees starter Jon Lieber.
"With singles and hits come confidence, and when you get confident you take more aggressive swings," said Huff, who hit two home runs for the third time in his career. "When you're struggling, every pitch is going to get you out. (You wonder), what's going on here? You wonder if it's your swing or what. You just keep hanging in there and hope good things happen."
Huff hit .408 (20-for-49) during the homestand and was 3-for-4 Sunday to raise his average to .264. During the first six weeks, he frequently was below .200.
"Huff has always hit, it's just a question of when he will start," Piniella said. "You look at his bubble gum card and it's filled with a lot of good years.
"When he starts getting his average up and getting his base hits, the home runs start coming."
Zambrano (5-4) stymied the Yankees, allowing three hits and three walks while striking out seven in his second straight strong showing.
"He gave us a tremendous outing tonight," said Fordyce, who had three hits and two RBIs.
Sosa took over with one out and two on in the seventh and pitched out of it before getting in trouble in the eighth.
"That's a tremendous lineup over there," Fordyce said. "They're going to keep coming at you like they did.
"We got the final out."
Added Piniella: "It's nice beating that team, it really is."
