Luster of sweep wears off

With Yankees series a memory, the Rays crumble. "That's ridiculous," Maddon says of team letting up.

By MARC TOPKIN
Published April 27, 2007

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The Devil Rays couldn't have felt any better when they arrived in California early Wednesday after sweeping the Yankees.

And they couldn't have felt any worse when they left 40 hours later, having been swept by the Angels, with No. 2 starter Jae Seo a wreck, centerfielder Rocco Baldelli hobbled with a bruise above his right knee and their defense a mess.

The final score in Thursday's matinee debacle was 11-3, but the game was over early as the Angels led 9-0 after three.

As if playing so poorly in two games wasn't bad enough, losing by a combined 20-4 and making four errors, it looked even worse after the two crisp wins over the Yankees.

Manager Joe Maddon was uncharacteristically stern in his public assessment of their poor effort, including 14 strikeouts at the plate (11 by Bartolo Colon) and their American League-most 19th error (Ty Wigginton dropping a popup).

"We played so well (against the Yankees), and that's part of what I really want to eradicate here, that when things start going well, we kind of let up," Maddon said.

"We can't do that. That's ridiculous. We haven't done anything yet that allows us, or permits us, or even permits us to think that you win two hard-fought games and all of a sudden you're pretty good. We're not. We've got to keep pounding at the door regardless of what happened the day before."

Maddon acknowledged that the rugged travel schedule may have been a factor, but he still expected better.

"That was a bad day," he said. "There's no way to sugarcoat that one."

Seo was a big part of the problem from the start, allowing seven of the first eight batters to reach (including the leadoff man when he was late to cover first on what became an infield single), lasting only 11/3 innings.

Seo didn't have much of anything, including explanations. "I don't know why," he said. "After a couple hits, I lost my focus."

In five starts this season, Seo (1-2) has allowed some staggering numbers over 232/3 innings: 52 baserunners, an AL-most 43 hits and 30 runs (25 earned). His ERA is 9.51, and teams have a .398 average against him.

Seo said he feels fine but that he has had unexplainable trouble getting the ball down in the strike zone. Maddon seems equally perplexed but firmly committed to keeping Seo, who has won twice in 21 Tampa Bay starts, in the rotation.

"Absolutely. No question," Maddon said. "I have a lot of faith in this young man. We just have to find out what's going on."

Baldelli's right leg was stiff and heavily taped after what the team said was a contusion above the right knee. He was hurt when he awkwardly ran into the centerfield wall chasing Orlando Cabrera's third-inning double, jogged off the field but went straight to the clubhouse and didn't return.

Baldelli is unlikely to play tonight and may need a few days off, but neither he nor Maddon thought the latest injury is serious.

"I think given a little bit of time, I think it will be fine," Baldelli said.

Maddon can only hope the same can be said for the rest of his team.

[Last modified April 26, 2007, 23:49:47]