Yankees fans help Rays make history

Fans pack the Trop to get a glimpse of the guys in pinstripes.

By EDUARDO A. ENCINA
Published July 16, 2007

Tampa Bay Devil Rays' Carl Crawford makes a sliding catch on a second inning fly ball by New York Yankees' Robinson Cano during a baseball game Thursday night July 12, 2007 in St. Petersburg, Fla.
	[AP Photo]

ST. PETERSBURG - The weekend brought the season's top-two largest crowds since opening day at Tropicana Field and concluded the franchise's most highly attended series since the Rays' inaugural season, but that milestone had less to do with the home team and more to do with the opponent.

Sunday's announced 36,048 marked the first time the Rays have recorded consecutive home sellouts. The capacity of the Trop was reduced this season by tarps in the upper deck, and some seats in rightfield were removed to allow for the new scoreboard.

The four-game series drew 123,806, the majority Yankees fans, as evidenced Sunday when they were on their feet cheering closer Mariano Rivera as he induced 1B Carlos Pena into a lazy popout to third for the final out.

"It's annoying, but I've been listening to it for a while," LF Carl Crawford said. "I'm used to it.

"You definitely don't want to hear that, but we know it's going to happen when the Yankees and Red Sox come to town."

Manager Joe Maddon said it's the organization's responsibility to turn Yankee fans into Rays fans.

"It's all up to us," he said. "It's not up to anybody else. The fans pay to come to the ballpark and when the Rays win, the fans will cheer for us also. It's just the way it is right now. It will change. ... I've seen it. I've been a part of it in the past. There's no sense in complaining about it. It's up to us to make a change."

SONNY OUTLOOK: Maddon was encouraged by rookie RHP Andy Sonnanstine's start Saturday, despite home runs to left-handed hitters Bobby Abreu and Hideki Matsui.

"I thought he pitched great," Maddon said. "I like the adjustments he's making. I know the lefties got him a little bit, but overall he's getting better. When he really establishes what he wants to do there and how he's going to pitch to left-handers, he could be really tough.

"He's getting better all the time. The cutter is getting better."

MINOR MATTERS: Durham RHP Jae Kuk Ryu, one of the top candidates to make a spot start during a day-night doubleheader next Sunday in New York, pitched five innings Sunday and allowed four runs - including two homers - on five hits, striking out seven and walking none. ... C Shawn Riggans was 1-for-4 in his eighth rehab game at Class A Vero Beach. He is 9-for-30.

MISCELLANY: With his first-inning run-scoring single, Pena extended his hitting streak to 12 games, tying his career high. ... 3B Ty Wigginton, who entered the game with one hit in his past 21 at-bats at the Trop, had a season-high four hits. ... Yankees starter Mike Mussina allowed three stolen bases and has allowed 17 on the season, third most in the AL behind A.J. Burnett and Tim Wakefield. ... Crawford had his first multisteal game since June 8 at Florida.

Being there

This weekend's four-game series against the Yankees was the fourth-highest attended home series in Rays history and the highest since the team's inaugural season in 1998. Here's a look at the top-four attended series at Tropicana Field:

Date Opponent Total

July 9-12, 1998 New York Yankees 166,711

June 18-21, 1998 Boston Red Sox 144,069

May 28-31, 1998 Seattle Mariners 134,555

July 12-15, 2007 New York Yankees 123,806

[Last modified July 16, 2007, 00:28:14]