Balfour has bullish approach to tight spots

By EDUARDO A. ENCINA, Times Staff Writer
Published August 31, 2007

BALTIMORE - In between its two late-inning anchors, setup man Dan Wheeler and closer Al Reyes, Tampa Bay leaned on newcomer Grant Balfour during its 5-4, 12-inning win Wednesday night.

Very quietly, Balfour, acquired from the Brewers on July 27 for RHP Seth McClung, has given manager Joe Maddon another reliable late-inning option in his bullpen remodeling.

"I definitely see a power arm," Maddon said. "I've seen him beat fastball hitters in fastball counts when they know a fastball's coming, and that's always nice to do that. I've been impressed. I would like to get to the point where you can start using him two days in a row. We see a possible bright future with this guy, so we want to take care of him. We want to get a good look and take care of him at the same time."

Balfour pitched a scoreless 10th and 11th, earning the victory - his first major-league win since 2004. Despite walking two, he struck out four, leaning on his fastball.

"I tried to go after guys and be aggressive," said Balfour, 29. "Obviously in a game situation like that when you're in extra innings like that, there's not too much room for error, so I was just trying to go after them and it worked out."

Nine of Balfour's 12 appearances with the Rays have been scoreless, including eight of his last nine.

"When you're pitching in a game when it's tied or you're ahead, that's where you want to be," he said. "You don't want to be the guy going out when it's 10-0 or whatever. I'll take any role I can get right now, and hopefully I can prove to them that I can come in during tight situations."

CALL-UPS: With Triple-A Durham and Double-A Montgomery in playoff chases, Maddon said that one - possibly two - players will join the major-league club when rosters expand Saturday.

"Durham's in good shape, Montgomery's in good shape," Maddon said. "There are a couple things we'd like to do, but we're going to wait."

Rehabbing RHP Jay Witasick likely will join the Rays. Witasick, on the DL since July23 with a right elbow strain, has pitched 51/3 scoreless innings at Durham, allowing one hit and striking out seven.

LESS IS MORE: Tonight's starter, 24-year-old RHP Andy Sonnanstine, has won two of his past three starts. One of the reasons, Maddon said, is because Sonnanstine is relying on his fastball, then mixing in his breaking pitch.

"I feel like I've been doing a better job of that," Sonnanstine said. "I think as long as I stick to that line of thinking, I think I'll be all right.

"It's kind of a hard thing for a young guy to do who doesn't throw a lot of balls over 90. It's been working, so I'm going to stick with it."

MISCELLANY: Former Montgomery 3B Evan Longoria, now with Durham, was named Southern League MVP. Biscuits RHP Chris Mason, who is 15-4 with a 2.53 ERA, was named Southern League pitcher of the year. RHP Dale Thayer, C John Jaso and OF Fernando Perez were named to the league's yearend All-Star team. ...Three days after a series of tests on OF Rocco Baldelli, there is still no explanation for his case of soreness. ... SS Josh Wilson hit his first major-league homer, to centerfield in the third inning.

[Last modified August 31, 2007, 00:45:26]