[Times photo:AP] Gerald Williams rounds second after hitting a two-run homer in the fifth inning against the Mariners' David Bell.

June 21, 2000

Devil Rays
Small slip-ups add up to frustrating Rays loss
Failures in the clutch and a key error by the usually reliable Felix Martinez help Mariners to a 4-3 win.

• Lopez keeps it simple to help keep Rays surging
  The key: "Throw as many strikes as you can," says the converted reliever, who continues to impress.
• Lowest levels get squads together
  The Ray Naimoli Complex is quiet now that short-season teams Hudson Valley and Princeton have broken camp to start the season. Hudson Valley started play Tuesday against Brooklyn, and its season will run through Sept. 6. The Renegades are the reigning New York-Penn League champions.
• Back to scene of the brawl
  SEATTLE -- Esteban Yan returns to the Safeco Field mound tonight focusing more on throwing pitches than punches.

Hubert Mizell
Lakers put the glitz back in L.A. sports
Channel Eight-Ball gave us an un-Storm Team-interrupted look, all through the gushing championship moment, with multimillionaire huggings, plus movie-star gushings, when Tiger O'Neal finally won the big one.

Darrell Fry/NBA
Have Lakers begun a dynasty?
Phil Jackson and a young 1-2 punch make L.A. next year's favorite.

Mutiny
Soccer in blood of Mutiny star Diallo
The game has been the MLS leading scorer's passion since age 9.

Outdoors
Captain's corner
Heading out at midnight on the full moon, we anchored about two casts from shore near Longboat Key in an area I'd seen traveling fish roll the day before.

Storm
Slump over, but inconsistent offense a concern
The Storm appears to have weathered the, well, storm after a bad start. And though its post-season inclusion is still far from assured, it is winning with four quarters of good play from the defense but just two from the offense.

Preps
Around Pinellas County
Signings

Tornadoes start search for new soccer coach
Clearwater is looking for a new boys soccer coach after Steve Lindsay was let go by the school last week.

Ex-Falcon makes pro debut
Former Dunedin catcher Cory Agar has come a long way in the past three weeks.

Sharks narrow coaching field
Riverview principal Vince Thompson said Tuesday the school hopes to hire a replacement this week for outgoing baseball coach Todd Harvey, who resigned last month for undisclosed reasons.