McClung proves he's at home in rotation

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO
Published June 27, 2005

	[Times photo: James Borchuck]
	In his first major-league start this year, the Rays' Seth McClung struck out five and walked three in seven strong innings.

ST. PETERSBURG - Perhaps Seth McClung knew what was best after all.

The Devil Rays right-hander always said he is more comfortable as a starter, and Sunday's two-hitter over seven innings may have proved the point. Especially after three starts for Triple-A Durham in which he allowed four runs in 13 innings with 15 strikeouts.

"Being a starter for me is something I'm used to," he said. "Going down to Durham it was kind of automatic. I went right back to everything real quick. I just tried to take what I was doing down there and do it up here."

McClung, recalled Sunday after a June 3 demotion, threw 111 pitches against Florida, 64 for strikes. But unlike this season's 17 bullpen outings in which he had an 11.09 ERA, he controlled the ball and his emotions.

After walking in a run in the third inning, he struck out Carlos Delgado looking at a curveball. And though he said the 40-pitch inning "felt like 1,000," it was the only trouble he was in all day.

"The thing that really helped me today is I threw the changeup," McClung said. "It helped me be able to throw that fastball on the outer half of the plate. It opened up a lot of things for me."

"Some kids basically feel more comfortable starting," manager Lou Piniella said. "I think with him, knowing what he's going to do every five days probably works better. He came in here nice and relaxed and he threw the ball."

Still, it wasn't the bottom line.

"It (stinks) to lose," McClung said. "You lose as a team and win as a team. I don't care about myself. My ERA is up there anyway (even though it dropped to 8.42). I just want to go out and put my team in a position to win."

From the starting rotation.

FAST TRACK: Piniella has said he wants to make more use of reliever Chad Orvella , and the right-hander's performance solidified that.

"We're going to do it," Piniella said. "He looks poised out there. We'll use him in whatever situation we need him."

Orvella, who pitched two scoreless innings and has a 3.65 ERA in 121/3, said he is ready.

"I hope I do get the opportunity to go out there in tough situations," he said. "I went through the minor leagues as a closer. You just have to realize it's the same game up here."

ERRORLESS EFFORT: Rays first baseman Travis Lee made two over-the-shoulder catches of foul balls. "I play them like I'm a wide receiver going for a pass," Lee said.

Had Lee not been charged with a controversial error June 19 against the Cardinals, he would today have played to tie Mike Hegan 's AL record of 178 consecutive errorless games.

But Lee's streak ended at 170 when umpire Jim Wolf said Lee's throw pulled catcher Toby Hall off home plate as a run scored.

"I don't even think about it," Lee said. "What are you going to say? He's out at home and he called it an error. It's no big deal for me."

BAEZ LIKES SOUTH FLORIDA: Danys Baez told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel he would not mind a trade to the Marlins, who play near his Miami home.

"Of course it would be good to go over there," the closer said. "It would be good for my family and everybody but I can't think about that while I'm playing."

NUNEZ DEMOTED: To make room for McClung, the Rays sent reliever Franklin Nunez to Durham. The right-hander was 1-0 in five games with a 10.80 ERA and gave up six earned runs in 11/3 innings in his last three outings.

MISCELLANY: The Rays have a season-high six-game losing streak at the Trop. ... Tampa Bay's 13 hits were fewest in a series of three or more games since getting 12 against the Yankees in April 2002. ... Tampa Bay has 13 1-0 losses. ... Aubrey Huff was designated hitter, his first start since bruising his knee on Wednesday, and was 0-for-4 to lower his average to .248. ... When Huff struck out to end the game, his average with runners in scoring position and two outs fell to .129 (4-for-31).

[Last modified June 27, 2005, 01:05:15]