It's the best of times for the red-hot Rays

Alex Sanchez's bat and Mark Hendrickson's arm help Tampa Bay earn a rare series win against New York.

By MARC TOPKIN
Published May 6, 2005

ST. PETERSBURG - The Devil Rays hope winning three straight from the Yankees is the start of something. The Yankees can only hope it's not the beginning of the end.

The Rays continued their remarkably resurgent play, riding the solid pitching of Mark Hendrickson, all-around offense from Alex Sanchez and dazzling defense to a 6-2 Thursday victory and a rare series win over the plodding pinstripers, their first since September 2002.

It was the kind of performance, coming off an 0-6 road trip and an eight-game losing streak, that the Rays - regardless of the fact that the Yankees are off to their worst start since 1991 - hope to build on.

"Most definitely," leftfielder Carl Crawford said. "It's always a confidence boost to beat the Yankees. They've got a good team, and when you beat a team like that three times in a row I'm pretty sure it doesn't do anything to hurt the confidence."

And it was the kind of effort that had the Rays thinking that maybe their season isn't lost.

"To play the way we played is more important than beating the Yankees, in a way," shortstop Julio Lugo said. "Playing the way we're playing right now, we could beat anybody."

The reality, at least for now, is that the Rays have tougher tests coming. The Yankees are a last-place team, tied with the Rays at the bottom of the East with 11-18 records, better than only Kansas City among AL clubs. Two of the league's best, the 16-11 Twins and baseball-best 21-7 White Sox, are up next at Tropicana Field.

"Just because we beat the Yankees; that's just a name right now," catcher Toby Hall said. "We have some big teams to compete against, and we have to try to go after everybody like we have this series."

Hendrickson, in his second start since coming off the disabled list, set the tone with a strong, and efficient, 71/3-inning outing, scattering seven hits while throwing only 86 pitches.

"I thought I did a pretty good job keeping the ball down; a lot of my outs (14 of 22) were on the ground," Hendrickson said. "And I did a pretty good job of attacking the strike zone, keeping my pitch count down and being aggressive."

"Awesome," Hall said. "That's how Mark can pitch."

Sanchez, making a case to take over the leadoff role with Lugo and Crawford behind him, made something happen in all four at-bats and scored a team record-tying four runs. He walked, dropped two bunt singles, stole two bases and hit his second home run in four days, matching his career-high season total of last year.

"That happens," said Sanchez, who last month was suspended for violating the new policy against performance-enhancing drugs. "No secret. I'm just making good contact."

The Rays played well overall. They took advantage of their scoring opportunities, played good defense (especially second baseman Nick Green) and limited the Yankees' chances for a comeback, with Lance Carter getting the final five outs in order.

The Rays had won only four of their first 39 series against the Yankees, never before the final month of the season and none since Lou Piniella became their manager in 2003. They'd beaten the Yankees three straight only three other times. Their four wins against them this season match their entire 2004 total.

Hendrickson said they seemed to have more energy and excitement playing a marquee opponent: "This is what we needed to get a kick-start."

Aubrey Huff said it felt good to beat them. "After the road trip we had, 0-6, I don't think anybody expected us to take three out of four," he said.

In what has already been a long season, it gave the Rays something to feel positive about.

"The Yankees are tough," Piniella said. "You beat a team that's highly respected and you should feel good about yourselves."

The Yankees, stung by injuries and dazed by poor play, weren't sure what to feel after losing for the seventh time in nine games.

"There's nothing you can do; just keep waiting for a good result," manager Joe Torre said. "We're being tested right now. We certainly have to just keep fighting and realize there's no magical formulas here."

[Last modified May 6, 2005, 00:52:08]