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BALTIMORE - Interleague play was a lost cause for the Devil Rays last season as they lost a record 15 of their 18 games against National League teams.
Starting Tuesday, the Rays will spend the next two weeks in interleague play, hosting the Giants and Rockies and visiting the Padres and Rockies. They also play two series against the Marlins.
Manager Lou Piniella isn't a big fan of the setup, which he thinks favors the NL teams because it's easier for them to add a DH at the AL parks than for the AL teams to play without one at the NL parks.
"The format is really in favor of the NL clubs," he said. "They play really with the same lineup plus add a hitter whereas the American League teams get penalized taking a hitter away they played with the whole year."
But he thinks the Rays' record was more a product of their overall problems than the specific matchups. Plus, 10 losses were by one or two runs.
"We were just struggling, and we lost a lot of close games," Piniella said. "I think we're a little better suited for it this year. We certainly hope to do better."
The Rays are 38-68 (.358) in interleague play, which is the worst record in the majors and worse than their record against AL teams, 364-554 (.397).
Rays pitchers will take batting practice three times this week to work on their hitting and - more important - their bunting.
LIGHTNING FEVER: The clubhouse was filled Sunday morning with talk about the Lightning with a number of Rays making plans to attend Game 7 tonight at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa.
"I told you how it would play out, a win in Game 7," catcher Toby Hall said.
BELL'S TOLL: Rob Bell allowed five runs on 10 hits over 42/3 innings, but thought there was some good to his outing. "It was one of those games where you get 10 hits on the board but you are one pitch away from getting out of it all those times," Bell said. "They scored some runs but I battled. ... It was just one of those days."
Piniella wasn't that impressed: "He didn't throw the ball particularly well. That's part of the inconsistency that we get here."
The Rays got a decent first outing from Jesus Colome, who went three innings without allowing a hit but walked three.
MAKING UP: The Rays are tentatively scheduled to make up Saturday's washed out game with a day-night doubleheader July 5. The Rays play at 3 p.m. in Miami on July 4, and now likely will play at 1:35 p.m. and 7:35 p.m. in Baltimore the next day.
STEPPING UP: With Paul Abbott released last week, the Rays need a new player rep for union business. Catcher Brook Fordyce is handling things on an interim basis, but outfielder Rocco Baldelli is likely to take over as the player rep. Fordyce said the union wants to get some of the younger players involved.
MINOR MATTERS: Chad Gaudin worked six shutout innings Saturday for his first win at Triple-A Durham. ... Damian Moss' last two pitching lines at Triple-A Durham: 71/3 innings, 15 earned runs, 15 hits, 11 walks. ... Delmon Young, the top pick in last year's draft, is hitting .301 with eight homers and 39 RBIs through 52 games at Class A Charleston (S.C.).
MEDICAL REPORT: Seth McClung, working his way back from Tommy John elbow surgery, threw 60 pitches in a simulated game Saturday with no problems and will be on the mound again Wednesday. He hopes to pitch in minor-league games next month and return to the big leagues in August.
MISCELLANY: Aubrey Huff extended his hitting streak to 14 games, the second longest of his career. The third baseman also stole his second base, matching his 2003 total. ... The season series with Baltimore is 3-3. ... Shortstop Julio Lugo set a team record by scoring four runs in Friday's game and tied another by getting four hits. ... Dewon Brazelton, who before Saturday's postponement was scheduled to pitch Sunday, will make his first start Friday or Saturday against Colorado.