Sports: Bullpen improves quickly

Bullpen improves quickly

By MARC TOPKIN

BALTIMORE -- There may be no overestimating how crucial it was for the Rays to win Wednesday's game and put the seven-game losing streak behind them.

But the dominating performance of setup men Doug Creek and Rusty Meacham and closer Esteban Yan ranks as a pretty important development as well.

The Rays' biggest question going into the season was how the rebuilt relief crew would perform. The first eight games, of which the Rays lost seven, didn't provide many answers as the bullpen posted a 6.43 ERA and blew two saves.

But Wednesday, things worked just the way they're supposed to. Creek got four outs. Meacham got the next three. And Yan, in overpowering fashion, did the rest.

"All three were significant in how we won, and it was important for this team to have seen it and see how they pitched," manager Larry Rothschild said. "If they start getting the feeling the bullpen is going to do the job, I think a lot of good things will start happening."

Yan was particularly impressive getting the final five outs.

"We said all spring we needed to get him on a roll and let him get confidence in himself and also with all of us," catcher John Flaherty said. "We've seen Este have good outings and bad outings. We need to see him have back-to-back good outings."

Said Rothschild: "Este was pretty much overpowering and for this team to see that is a big pickup." Yan was clocked at 98 mph, but, Flaherty said, "More important than the velocity was the control. That was the first time I'd ever seen him throw the fastball down at the knees that consistently. He had a different mind-set (Wednesday). Sometimes he comes in and throws a lot of (split-finger pitches), but he was very aggressive with his fastball. We need to get him into situations like that."

FOR STARTERS: It's only been three games, but Russ Johnson likes this starting stuff.

"No doubt there's a different mind-set," Johnson said. "You're going to bed knowing you're playing. You're coming to the park knowing. This game is so much mental, and you're able to get into a routine."

Installed as the second baseman after Monday's decision to ship out Bobby Smith, Johnson has hustled, played steady defense and gone 4-for-11, including a home run, with a walk.

"I just want to play," Johnson said. "I want to go out there and battle, do my part to help my team win."

STRAIGHT O'S: The Rays have 19 wins against the Orioles, their most of any opponent. The Rays won 13 of the first 19 games, but the Orioles have taken 11 of the past 18. ... The Rays are 9-9 at Camden Yards, one of five parks at which they have a .500 or better record, but have lost seven of the past eight.

RUPE ON A ROLL: He didn't get the win and his ERA is still four digits (10.38), but Ryan Rupe showed progress Wednesday, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits in five-plus innings.

Rupe made mechanical adjustments designed to create leverage and was considerably sharper than in his first start.

"He made some really good pitches," Rothschild said.

SLEIGHT OF HAND: Meacham has pitched well since being recalled from Durham. He also has impressed his teammates by pitching quickly.

"I feel like he's waiting and waiting for the ball to get back to him," Flaherty said. "He's a guy whose stuff probably isn't the best of our guys in the pen, but he gets the ball, he works fast, he throws strikes.

"He's been a breath of fresh air since he got here."