MINNEAPOLIS - The Devil Rays hope things are looking up for Doug Waechter after some extra work on keeping the ball down.
After Waechter gave up 14 homers, second-most in the American League, in his first seven starts, including nine in his past 202/3 innings, pitching coach Chuck Hernandez made some minor adjustments to the mechanics of the rookie right-hander's delivery.
"He's been working with Chuck on keeping the ball down in the strike zone," manager Lou Piniella said. "They uncovered a bit of a mechanical flaw. ... It's caused him location problems as well as some velocity. Let's hope he's back on track (tonight)."
Waechter said the changes are nothing radical - "I won't be out there left-handed," he said - and probably won't even be noticeable when he starts tonight against the Twins.
"You won't even be able to see it," he said. "We're just working on staying tall and driving the ball down in the strike zone. When it's four or five inches, it's a totally different pitch."
Waechter (2-5) knows he has to do something to cut down on the long balls: Of the 22 earned runs he has allowed, 20 have come on home runs.
"Eliminate those and I'd be in good shape," Waechter said.
TAMPA TIME: About the only thing missing at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse on Monday night were some good Tampa cigars.
Piniella, the Tampa-born manager, went out to eat with his coaches to celebrate winning his 1,400th game. When Tino Martinez and Fred McGriff, the Tampa natives who both homered in the game, showed up at the same restaurant, they insisted on buying Piniella's dinner as a present.
"It was a good Tampa day," Piniella said.
CRIME TIME: A few hours after McGriff hit his 492nd homer Monday, Ken Griffey hit his 494th, staying two steps ahead in the race to 500. McGriff said he laughed when he saw on TV that Griffey had also gone deep.
"He's a little bit ahead of me because he's in there every day," McGriff said. "If he'd stayed healthy he would have gotten there (to 500) a long time ago. He was on pace for 700."
Minnesota's Seth Greisinger was the 349th pitcher McGriff has homered off. Griffey added another homer Tuesday night.
SOSA SO-SO: Jorge Sosa pitched four straight games without giving up a run, allowing only four hits over 71/3 innings. In his past two outings, he has given up five runs (four earned) and allowed seven of 10 batters to reach base.
The problem is he is rushing his delivery and, in essence, pushing the ball toward the plate rather than throwing it.
"He's working under the ball again," Piniella said. "He tells me he's ready to go. I asked him which Sosa is going to show up today."
HERE'S CHUCK: There's a reason Piniella has been having Hernandez go to the mound to make pitching changes: It's working.
"We've been doing well and the bullpen's been pitching well," Piniella said. "And one good thing is they can't talk me out of it."
MINOR MATTERS: Jonny Gomes homered in two straight games after going back to Triple A and has 11 in 24 games for the Bulls. ... Centerfielder Joey Gathright doubled in each of his first three games at Triple A. ... Todd Ritchie was moved up to Double-A Montgomery to continue his rehabilitation from shoulder surgery. ... University of South Alabama second baseman Josh Touchstone signed a minor-league contract. ... The Rays purchased reliever Jeremy Flanagan from Edinburg in the independent Central League and plan to send him to Charleston.
MISCELLANY: Twins rookie catcher Joe Mauer, who injured his left knee in the second game of the season, will be activated tonight. ... No Rays were among the top five vote-getters at their positions in the first release of All-Star totals. ... The Rays haven't had back-to-back road wins since Aug. 27-28 at Seattle. They have lost 11 straight road series since. ... Pitchers will start taking batting practice next week in preparation for the June 15-20 interleague games at San Diego and Arizona. ... Piniella said he may use Toby Hall as the DH on Thursday to get an extra right-handed bat in the lineup against lefty Johan Santana.
