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Everything clicks in a 10-2 victory that snaps a five-game losing streak and helps pay back a pair of blowout losses.
By KEVIN KELLY
© St. Petersburg Times, published May 21, 2001
ST. PETERSBURG -- As the football coach stood and delivered a brief motivational speech to a downtrodden team Sunday, Paul Wilson's eyes scanned the Rays clubhouse.
The pitcher noticed how teammates paid attention to Lou Holtz's every word.
But as coincidental as it seemed after the fact, Wilson respectfully noted the Rays' 10-2 win over Detroit had more to do with professional pride than anything the South Carolina coach said.
"When you lose night after night you kind of start believing, 'Are we capable of winning?' " Wilson said. "We're very capable of winning, and tonight just reminds us that we are big-league ballplayers and we can play this game and we can play it well."
Thanks to six solid innings from Wilson, offensive production and near flawless defensive play, the Rays ended a five-game losing streak and an otherwise forgettable series with the Tigers in which they were outscored 28-7 in the first two games.
The 10 runs were a season high and the victory, before an announced 13,512 at Tropicana Field, came a week after the Rays' last win against Cleveland.
"Hopefully today is the beginning," said designated hitter Greg Vaughn, who went 2-for-5 with two home runs and two RBI. "It's more important we win, make the plays, and pretty soon everyone in here will see how enjoyable winning is."
Except for the third inning, when Detroit scored its runs, Wilson kept the Tigers guessing in his first win since April 25.
He allowed five hits, struck out seven and walked one. Of his 108 pitches, 73 were for strikes.
"Lou wasn't out on that mound. He didn't tell Paul how to hold a changeup or throw a fastball, you know?" Vaughn said. "He's a good speaker but you've got to give credit to Paul Wilson. He kept the guys off-balance, he challenged them and the defense made the plays and Fred (McGriff) had a big day and we just played pretty good baseball today."
Vaughn, McGriff and shortstop Andy Sheets combined to go 7-for-14 with four home runs and eight RBI. In the fifth inning, Vaughn and McGriff hit back-to-backhomers for the second time this season.
McGriff, who finished 3-for-5, has 24 RBI in his past 18 games, and Vaughn has five homers in his past 38 at-bats.
"The big guys are getting hot, and it can be fun if those guys swing the bats the way they've done the last couple of days," manager Hal McRae said.
The Rays also did the little things their manager wants on a consistent basis.
"We were aggressive and took advantage of some mistakes, and we played the game the way it should be played, and that's encouraging," McRae said. "I think the players, even though we have the worst record in baseball, they're having some fun."
Tampa Bay scored three with two outs in both the first and second innings off Detroit starter Dave Mlicki.
McGriff singled home centerfielder Gerald Williams in the first. After rightfielder Randy Winn led off the second with a walk and stole second, Sheets hit a run-scoring single to center. Second baseman Damian Rolls then singled home Sheets to make it 3-0.
"There are times when you just rock 'n' sock, and there are times when you manufacture runs," McRae said. "More consistently you have to manufacture, because those rock 'n' sock days are few and far between."
The bullpen held after Wilsom came out with a 7-2 lead.
Travis Phelps started the seventh and struck out three in two scoreless innings. Esteban Yan pitched the ninth and got a double play and strikeout to end the game.
"I'm just glad to get the win today," Phelps said. "We needed it. We needed one to get us going again."