Rays seek to solve riddle of the road

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO
Published May 30, 2005

ST. PETERSBURG - The Devil Rays hit the road today hoping a 12-game trip to Oakland, Seattle, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh brings better things.

Tampa Bay is a majors-worst 3-18 on the road. The Rays are 16-14 at home.

"We need to play better on this road trip," manager Lou Piniella said before Sunday's 10-9 loss to the Mariners. "That's the big question. We've been playing a lot of close ballgames. If you start winning a few more you start getting a little more confidence."

The Rays' road woes are about numbers. They have been outscored 131-80, outhomered 26-18 and outhit .293-.263. The pitching staff has walked 102 while the Rays have worked just 45.

Theories abound as to the home-away discrepancy, including the team's relative youth and inexperience, and the advantage it gains playing on the fast track provided by Tropicana Field's artificial surface.

"It's just something, I don't know, like a haunt or something," third baseman Jorge Cantu said. "I don't know what's going on on the road. We're trying to figure something out. It's got to change real soon."

That's why Sunday's game against the Mariners was so important. A victory would have sent the team off feeling good. Instead, the focus turned to how Tampa Bay might reverse its worst-ever road start.

"I don't know if there's much of a difference on the road," pitcher Doug Waechter said. "It just hasn't worked out. But once we get it rolling, we feel it's going to come through."

"We have to keep playing like (we do at home) and take it on the road," Cantu said. "It's very important."

HUFF CAN'T DELIVER: With the bases loaded and two outs in the eighth inning, Rays slugger Aubrey Huff lined out softly to Mariners shortstop Wilson Valdez , whose leaping grab preserved a 9-9 tie. It also upped Huff's slump with the bases loaded to 0-for-17. Huff's last bases-loaded hit was an infield single on Sept. 3, 2002.

ROTATION CHANGES: With two days off in the first eight on the road trip, Piniella said the team needs only four starters and will move Waechter to the bullpen. Piniella said Waechter will return to the rotation at Cincinnati on June 7, when the Rays start a stretch of 22 games in 23 days. "I just think Waechter can work a little better out of the bullpen," Piniella said of the right-hander who has two bullpen outings this season. That sets up a sequence of Scott Kazmir , Hideo Nomo and Mark Hendrickson today, Tuesday and Wednesday against the A's, and Casey Fossum , Kazmir and Nomo on Friday, Saturday and Sunday against the Mariners.

SWITZER SENT DOWN: Reliever Jon Switzer , who walked seven in four innings and had a 6.75 ERA after his callup from Double-A Montgomery on May 11, was optioned to Triple-A Durham. The Rays are expected to fill the roster spot today.

LACK OF REWARD: Fossum was sturdy in three starts since being promoted from the bullpen, but lost the two in which he got decisions, including Saturday against the Mariners. "He's pitched three good ballgames," Piniella said. "We haven't given him much run support." Fossum has allowed seven earned runs in his starts. The Rays have scored five during the 17 innings he pitched.

MISCELLANY: The family of Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith of Tampa, the late Medal of Honor recipient, threw out the first pitch. ... Waechter struck out a season-high six. But the two home runs he allowed brings to eight what he has given up in 30 innings at the Trop. ... All six of Cantu's home runs have come at Tropicana Field. ... Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki went 3-for-14 in the series and is batting .288 (46-for-160) against the Rays, lowest among AL opponents. ... Entering Sunday, Rays outfielder Alex Sanchez led the American League with a .378 average (28-for-74) in May, and outfielder Damon Hollins led AL rookies with a .333 average (24-for-72), five home runs and a .372 on-base percentage. ... Rays pitcher Trever Miller turned 32.

[Last modified May 30, 2005, 01:39:09]