Win means relief; so does end of trip

By MARC TOPKIN
Published June 13, 2005

PITTSBURGH - Carl Crawford said Sunday's back-and-forth extra-inning victory was the perfect way to cap the seasonlong 12-game, 14-day roadtrip that finally ended Sunday.

"A game like this just shows how the whole trip went," he said. "It's been one big whirlwind from the different kind of emotions. You think you've got a win and then you don't and you're going back and forth with all these different kind of feelings. You don't want to say, "Well, the same thing is going to happen again,' and then you get in a situation like we had (Sunday) and you get all excited and then it happens.

"It's been like that the whole trip."

The Rays won twice during the four-city trip, and they lost in all kinds of ways.

They lost three games on the final pitch. They lost twice (on consecutive nights) when they led by five or more. They lost four straight when they led by three or more, the first team to do that in 50 years.

"It was tough," shortstop Julio Lugo said. "We played some games we should have won that we let slip away. Those are the type of games when we have them we have to finish up, and we couldn't finish it. Overall I think we played good and we battled. We played way better than 2-10."

The best thing about the trip, of course, is that it's over. And given that the Rays have played so much better at home (16-14 compared to 5-28 on the road), they will be happy to be back at Tropicana Field tonight for a six-game interleague homestand against the Brewers and Cardinals.

"It was a tough trip," manager Lou Piniella said. "I don't think we've had an easy one this year. But it ended up with a win. And hopefully we'll have a good homestand."

The Rays left St. Petersburg May 29 and were gone so long, they'll bring home four new players: Lee Gardner , Franklin Nunez , Chad Orvella and Reggie Taylor .

FIRST-TIMERS: Nunez was happy just to be called up from Triple-A Durham Sunday morning, joining the Rays for his third big-league stint.

Retiring all seven batters he faced (and getting eight outs) was even better. And picking up his first major-league win was best of all.

"Pretty good," Nunez said.

Orvella, called up May 30 from Double-A, accomplished two firsts. He hadn't been used on consecutive days all season, but with the bullpen depleted Piniella called on him to get the final three outs in the 13th. He did, and got his first big-league save - the first of many, he hopes - in the process.

"I felt a little weaker than what I'd like," Orvella said. "I felt a lot better after the last out."

MEDICAL REPORT: Reliever Jesus Colome , placed on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to Friday, is expected to see Rays orthopedic physician Koco Eaton today to determine the extent of his continued shoulder problems. Colome said Saturday he thought he might need season-ending surgery, but Piniella said the Rays don't think the problem is serious.

Closer Danys Baez , out since Wednesday with stiffness in his shoulder, said his Sunday bullpen session went well and he would available to pitch again starting tonight. "Ready to go," he said.

Starter Mark Hendrickson had problems with cramps in his left hamstring and left after five innings. It was the second time in three weeks Hendrickson had that type of problem, which he attributed to the heat.

TAKE THAT: Managing general partner Vince Naimoli declined comment when asked about Piniella's criticism of ownership. But he may have given a telling answer when asked about the team's overall poor play and lack of success.

"You'll have to ask our field manager," he said.

ON/OFF THE MARK: Hendrickson said he felt he made some progress with the adjustments to his mechanics, but still was not happy with his overall performance after allowing two runs on six hits and no walks. "I'm still throwing too much across my body," he said.

MISCELLANY: Struggling Aubrey Huff was out of the lineup for just the fifth time. ... Doug Waechter warmed up and was ready for relief duty but wasn't used and will start as scheduled tonight. ... The Rays won for their first time in 10 Sunday games and their first time in nine interleague games. ... Two more drafted pitchers were signed: seventh-round pick Michael Wlodarczyk and 24th rounder Neal Frontz . ... Piniella said he thanked Gardner for his willingness and effort in pitching the final two innings of Saturday's blowout despite being used heavily during the week.

[Last modified June 13, 2005, 01:43:11]