Rays/MLB

Anemic bats, bad bullpen sink Rays

Tigers 8, Rays 3: An offense getting few hits manages to take a lead before three relievers combine to lose it.

By MARC TOPKIN
Published August 3, 2006

	[Times photo: Dirk Shadd]
	Rays second baseman Jorge Cantu protests Brandon Inge being called safe on a stolen base in the seventh. The call was moot after Marcus Thames flied out to end the inning.

ST. PETERSBURG - The Devil Rays reached the two-thirds point of their season Wednesday as a team clearly in transition. And how that translates to their final record could make for a long final two months.

What had the potential to be a hard-earned victory over the baseball-best Tigers turned into another frustrating defeat. The 8-3 loss left the Rays 44-64 and on pace for a 66-96 record, but that assumes they can play at the level they did for the first four months.

With an offense stripped down after the trades of Aubrey Huff and Julio Lugo, a rotation with few known quantities and a bullpen that clearly is in need of immediate renovation, starting with today's promotion of Seth McClung to replace injured Travis Harper, that may be asking too much.

Since the All-Star break, the Rays have given up the most runs in the majors, 133, and have been the second-worst hitting team, averaging .228 (112-for-492). And they have lost 14 times in 19 games, the worst record in the majors.

Wednesday, the Rays worked hard to take a 3-2 lead in the sixth, hustling bloopers into doubles, working walks, beating out infield hits, even scoring on a bunt.

But that wasn't enough.

Left-hander Jon Switzer, who got the Rays out of the seventh with one pitch, failed miserably in the eighth. He walked the first batter, Placido Polanco. He gave up a single to the second, Dmitri Young, who had homered earlier. Then he gave up a two-run double to the third, Magglio Ordonez, who is a routinely rude guest at the Trop, driving in 29 runs in 35 games under the tilted roof.

Ruddy Lugo, who has struggled mightily since coming off the disabled list at the All-Star break, didn't do much better. He replaced Switzer and got one quick out then made his contribution to the lost cause, giving up a two-out, full-count homer to Craig Monroe, then struggled more in the ninth.

And Chad Harville wasn't much better, allowing a hit and two walks.

The bullpen could soon have a new look with Dan Miceli the next possible addition.

"The bullpen all year for us has been up and down," manager Joe Maddon said. "Right now, we're just in one of those awkward moments."

But the limited offense - which has made the Rays the worst-hitting team in the American League since the All-Star break - looks like something they apparently are going to have to get used to. In their five post-break wins, they have scored 59 runs but in the 14 losses only 38.

With Rocco Baldelli and Carl Crawford at the top of the lineup and newcomers B.J. Upton and Ben Zobrist at the bottom, the middle consists of Jorge Cantu, who has yet to have an extended hot streak; Travis Lee, who was hitting ninth a few weeks ago; and Jonny Gomes, whose average is teetering at the brink of .200.

As the Rays struggle, the Tigers have soared. Wednesday's win was their major-league leading 72nd of the season, surpassing their victory total from all of 2005.

The night was not without some positives for the Rays.

Catcher Dioner Navarro showed creativity with a bunt single and clutch hitting with a go-ahead single in the sixth. Starter Tim Corcoran rebounded nicely after a trio of rough starts following the All-Star break, pitching into the sixth. And Zobrist, in his second big-league start, picked up his first RBI with a perfectly placed sacrifice bunt.

[Last modified August 3, 2006, 05:27:00]