Rays/MLB

Home offers no respite for Rays

ORIOLES 4, RAYS 1: Another blown lead and plenty of missed opportunities add up to an eighth straight loss.

By EDUARDO A. ENCINA
Published September 19, 2006

	[Times photo: DIrk Shadd]
	The Rays' B. J. Upton yells in frustration after striking out with runners on the corners for the first out in the ninth inning. The Rays loaded the bases with two outs but failed to score.

ST. PETERSBURG - Devil Rays manager Joe Maddon scrawled notes on the back of his lineup card Monday night. For good measure, he repeated his observations into a digital recorder.

The first-year manager might not remember the events of this particular mid September game come next spring training, but the subject of his thoughts won't be forgotten when he talks to his team about the keys to winning before next season.

Hoping that coming home to Tropicana Field would bring good fortune following an 0-6 road trip, the Devil Rays blew an early lead - the 88th time this season they've squandered one - but what bristled at Maddon more was that his team couldn't come up with the timely hits late. Tampa Bay was 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position, an all-too-familiar scenario in this frustrating season. In this case, it led to the Devil Rays' season-high eighth straight loss.

"We talk about it now, but we really need to address it next going into next season," Maddon said. "To participate in this division, you have to be able to take care of business like that and we have not been able to do that, thus we find ourselves in the position we're in. We're finding out what we need to work on."

With 12 games remaining, the Devil Rays (52-93) came one loss closer to, and seven losses away from, 100. The Rays now need to play .500 ball (6-6) for the remainder of the season to avoid that dubious distinction.

Baltimore's Erik Bedard earned his 15th win of the season and third over the Rays. The left-hander overcame an early 1-0 deficit, allowing just four hits over seven innings of work.

Bedard, who owns a 2.84 ERA in six starts against the Rays this season, struck out 10. With the exception of shortstop Ben Zobrist, he struck out every Tampa Bay batter at least once.

"Tonight Bedard just shoved it up our butts," Rays centerfielder Rocco Baldelli said. "I don't know what he was doing, but whatever it was it was nasty."

Corey Patterson's three-run homer in the second inning off Tampa Bay starter Tim Corcoran was all the Orioles, who are 12-6 against the Devil Rays, would need offensively.

"One pitch, one pitch did me in," Corcoran said.

Ty Wigginton's run-scoring single in the first gave Tampa Bay a 1-0 lead. And despite falling behind, the Rays had their opportunities late. With Bedard out of the game, the Rays stranded five runners in the final two innings.

In the eighth, the Rays opened with back-to-back singles by Baldelli and Delmon Young with the heart of the order coming up. But Orioles manager Sam Perlozzo went to left-hander Brian Burres to face Carl Crawford, inducing Crawford into a flyout to center. Wigginton then hit a comebacker to reliever Chris Britton, who went to second for the force on Young. Britton then struck out Greg Norton looking on an inside slider.

The Rays opened the ninth with runners on the corners on Jorge Cantu's double, a wild pitch and a seven-pitch walk to Dioner Navarro. But Orioles closer and Hillsborough High grad Chris Ray struck out B.J. Upton and pinch-hitter Kevin Witt, both swinging. Baldelli drew a two-out walk, but Young - with what remained of the scattered 11,729 fans standing in hopes of a comeback - grounded out to second to end the game.

[Last modified September 19, 2006, 01:40:47]