Rays/MLB

Through gloom, Young shines brightly

By MARC TOPKIN
Published September 18, 2006

TORONTO - At least they have Delmon.

With all that is going bad for the Devil Rays, rookie Delmon Young has been very, very good.

Sunday, he homered and singled to increase his average to .400 (30-for-75), extended his hitting streak to 11 games (two shy of Rocco Baldelli's team rookie record), made another impressive running catch and nearly threw out another runner at the plate, and earned the respect of Toronto manager John Gibbons, who brought in reliever Justin Speier to face him in a key seventh-inning situation.

"That kid in this series did everything you can possibly do in a baseball game," Gibbons said. "He homered, he stole a base, he played defense. He's the complete package. Yes, he deserved that respect."

The move worked, as Young lined out. But there hasn't been much that has stopped the just-turned-21 rightfielder, who has hits in 16 of his 18 games.

His 11-game hitting streak is one shy of the Rays' best this season (Carl Crawford and Ty Wigginton had 12-gamers) and five shy of the league rookie best (Howie Kendrick's 16-gamer), but Young said he isn't keeping track.

"I don't really care about records," he said, "only wins and losses."

Manager Joe Maddon said he likes everything he has seen. "He's just playing at a very high level right now," he said. "He's prepared every day. His at-bats, he's always thinking. He's constantly thinking in a good way, not in a way that becomes overt or oppressive to him. He's got a clear mind. It's simple. It's really nice to see and a great example to the rest of our group."

ON THE REBOUND: Reliever Edwin Jackson reported only a slight headache the day after being hit in the back of the head by a line drive, and Maddon said he could pitch as soon as tonight.

Jackson, who had a clear CAT scan Saturday night, said he was told he may have some symptoms of post-concussion syndrome but did not expect any serious aftereffects, nor any concerns about returning to the mound.

"'l'm fine," he said. "I've got a little headache, but that's about it."

Left-handed reliever Jon Switzer was struck by a line drive Sunday, with the ball hitting his right palm then his left forearm. He said he was fine.

NUMBERS GAME: The Rays have a season-high seven-game losing streak for the third time. ... They were swept for the ninth time, the seventh since the All-Star break. ... They completed their third winless road trip of the second half and their eighth all time of two or more cities. ... Their 6-12 record against Toronto was their worst in nine seasons. .. They were outscored 52-27 on the trip.

PITCHING IN: Maddon said he was pleased with the performance of rookie starter Brian Stokes, particularly in how he used his curveball more frequently. ... Tim Corcoran and Jason Hammel swapped spots in the rotation, with Corcoran starting tonight against Baltimore and Hammel on Tuesday. Jae Seo will start Wednesday, then James Shields against the Yankees on Friday, J.P. Howell on Saturday, either Corcoran or Stokes on Sunday and Seo on Sept. 25.

MINOR MATTERS: Class A Visalia looked to wrap up the California League championship Sunday night after taking a two-games-to-one lead in the best-of-five series with a 1-0 win Saturday over Inland Empire.

Sarasota's James Houser provided another huge start for the Oaks with six shutout innings, and Evan Meek and Nick DeBarr finished. Neil Walton singled in the only run.

The Oaks sent Jonathan Barratt to the mound looking to join Double-A Montgomery as league champions. It would be the first time since 1999 the Rays have had two in the same year.

MISCELLANY: As quickly as the Rays wanted to get out of Toronto, they couldn't. Mechanical problems delayed their departure more than an hour. ... Shawn Camp made his 72nd relief appearance, matching Roberto Hernandez's 1999 team record. ... The Rays open their final homestand tonight with attendance up more than 20 percent over last year. ... The Rays were entertained by details of former teammate Joey Gathright's first major-league home run (in his 592nd at-bat) Saturday for Kansas City. ... Team president Matt Silverman was featured in a Saturday Wall Street Journal story.

[Last modified September 18, 2006, 02:36:36]