Wigginton's bat comes through once again
RAYS 6, ANGELS 3: The third baseman continues to shine since returning from an injury, homering to tie it and doubling to seal it.
By DAMIAN CRISTODERO
Published July 26, 2006
ST. PETERSBURG - Ty Wigginton said the best part of his day is when he comes to the ballpark and puts on his uniform.
It is then, the Devil Rays third baseman said, "I get to be a 10- or 12-year-old kid for four hours."
No surprise, then, Wigginton described as agonizing sitting out four games of the last road trip because of a sore back and acknowledged it could be why he has played so well since.
"It makes you miss it even more," Wigginton said. "When you have to sit and you see your teammates sweating and bleeding, it makes you want to do the same."
The thing with Wigginton is how often he makes the most of his opportunities.
Take Tuesday night's 6-3 victory over the Angels at Tropicana Field.
Wigginton's two-out, two-strike, two-run home run in the sixth inning tied the score at 2. His two-run double in the seventh was part of a four-run inning that secured the game.
Of his career-tying 17 home runs, 12 have either tied games or put the Rays ahead. Twenty-two of his 56 RBIs have done the same.
"He's been huge," starting pitcher James Shields said. "He's been one of our clutch hitters. It's good to know that when you get a guy up to the plate like that, he's going to produce."
The victory was only the third in 12 games for Tampa Bay (42-59) since the All-Star break, and it snapped a six-game losing streak to Los Angeles.
Shields did not get the victory, which means his four-decision losing streak is intact. But the right-hander went 61/3 innings with six strikeouts and said he made progress varying his pitches and using his curveball more as a complement to his fastball and changeup.
The Rays sprinkled enough moments throughout the game for manager Joe Maddon to call it a good "overall" victory.
Catcher Josh Paul had two doubles, the first time since August 2001 he had two extra-base hits in a game. Reliever Jon Switzer got the victory and got two tough outs in the seventh inning with runners on first and third.
And the defense was stellar despite the absence of injured shortstop Julio Lugo. The infield turned double plays to end the first three innings, and first baseman Travis Lee leaned over the dugout railing to catch Mike Napoli's foul ball that floated over the B catwalk in the eighth.
It all could have been moot if not for a momentum-changing home run from Wigginton, who is batting .407 (11-for-27) with four doubles during seven-game hitting streak since returning to the lineup on July 19.
"His strike zone has been organized," Maddon said. "He's not fouling off his pitch. His approach at the plate has been really good, so what he did didn't surprise me."
Wigginton said all he wanted to do in the sixth was put the ball in play against Angels starter Ervin Santana, who had won seven consecutive decisions and, at that point, had allowed just three hits.
"The guy," Wigginton said, "was nasty all night."
Wigginton said he fouled off a fastball to make the count 2-and-2 then slammed a hanging slider an estimated 414 feet into the leftfield stands.
"I made a mistake," said Santana, who beat the Rays this season in two previous outings. "It was a slider up the middle. He hit the ball good."
Wigginton seems to do that in clutch.
Asked if he treats those situations differently, he said, "You'd like to say you don't. But everyone in this clubhouse, when you get a guy in scoring position, lifts their mental game."
For Wigginton, it has been like child's play.