Rays/MLB

Opportunities abundant, but bats aren't cashing in

By MARC TOPKIN
Published June 30, 2006

WASHINGTON - The Devil Rays, especially since the return of Rocco Baldelli, have been getting lots of hits.

But they haven't been getting them at the right time.

In their past six games, for example, the Rays are hitting just .213 (10-for-47) with runners in scoring position. Not surprisingly, they've lost four of the six, and in the games they've won they've scored only three.

"We've got to get better at hitting with runners in scoring position," manager Joe Maddon said. "That's been one of our major drawbacks as an offense. We get guys out there, we just can't get them in. We just have to do a better job with that."

Maddon said the deficiency is a combination of several issues, but he would like to see the hitters change their approach with two outs and runners on and make more of an effort to hit the ball on the ground rather than swing for the fences.

"The thing I've always preached is to stay away from the fly ball in those situations," he said. "I think the fact that we've hit more home runs, maybe that thought is infiltrating the fabric of our game a little bit."

The Rays are hitting .242 with runners in scoring position overall, .236 with two outs.

HOT JULIO: Shortstop Julio Lugo has been on quite a roll. After reaching base five times Wednesday at Florida, Lugo has been on in 20 of his past 28 plate appearances, going 14-for-22 with six walks.

"The big thing is that he's been drawing his walks," Maddon said. "It always seems when you start accepting your walks, your hitting gets better. That means you've organized your strike zone, and that's what he's done."

SIMPLE PLAN: Tim Corcoran doesn't plan to do much different tonight against Washington in his second start than he did in his first Saturday, when he beat Atlanta.

"Same thing as last time," he said. "Be aggressive with my two-seamer and my sinker, throw a lot of strikes, let them hit it into the ground and try to have quick innings."

There will, however, be two differences. Corcoran will get to wear a Rays jersey instead of the Turn Back the Clock Tampa Tarpons gear, and he will have to bat - for only the second time in his pro career - against Washington starter Mike O'Connor.

"If he can throw any faster than 85 mph, I'm sure he'll blow it by me," Corcoran said.

CAPITOL VENTURES: The Rays play their first game in Washington's RFK Stadium tonight, but it won't be a new experience for all of them. Russell Branyan, Brian Meadows, Dioner Navarro, Tomas Perez and Jae Seo played there last season when they were with NL teams.

Three Rays coaches played there, too. Senior adviser Don Zimmer finished his major-league career with the Senators in 1963-65. Third-base coach Tom Foley played in a 1993 exhibition game there for the Pirates.

But the most interesting appearance was by first-base coach George Hendrick, who made his major-league debut there June 4, 1971, with Oakland.

Hendrick came into the game in the 11th inning and ended up getting six at-bats as it went 21 innings. Hendrick picked up his first hit in the 20th, singling off Denny Riddleberger as the A's won 5-3.

MINOR MATTERS: Durham first baseman Kevin Witt was elected a starter for International League squad in the July 12 Triple-A All-Star Game, and catcher Shawn Riggans and shortstop B.J. Upton were selected as reserves. Witt leads the league with 19 homers and is second with 53 RBIs. Riggans is hitting .301 with eight homers and 36 RBIs in his first season above Double A; Upton is hitting .261 with five homers, 31 RBIs and a league-leading 30 stolen bases. He also has made 27 errors. . . . J.P. Howell, the pitcher acquired from Kansas City for Joey Gathright, went six innings Wednesday for his first Durham win. . . . Third baseman Rodney Nye, released by Boston's Pawtucket team, joined Durham. . . . Double-A Montgomery's Tony Peguero lost a no-hitter in the seventh inning Wednesday. . . . First-round pick Evan Longoria is expected to debut tonight for advanced Class A Visalia after hitting .424 with four homers and 11 RBIs in an eight-game stint at short-season Hudson Valley.

[Last modified June 30, 2006, 02:45:38]