Sports: McRae finds a spot to work in Wilson

MIAMI -- Manager Hal McRae said before Sunday's game against the Marlins that he hoped to get Paul Wilson out of the bullpen and involved at some point.

"I would like to pitch him in a meaningful situation, if possible," McRae said.

The ideal predicament for Wilson's second relief appearance and first in seven days arose in the fifth inning.

Wilson, 2-7 with an 8.43 ERA in 12 starts before being moved to the bullpen June 5, replaced starter Joe Kennedy with two runners on and one out and the score tied at 4.

"You don't ever come in in an easy situation," Wilson said. "Since I've been out there, I've been trying to figure out how I'm going to approach (relieving)."

Kevin Millar, the first batter Wilson faced, hit a slider for a two-run single that gave the Marlins a 6-4 lead. Wilson then got Derrek Lee to ground into an inning-ending double play.

Both runs were charged to Kennedy.

"I threw (Millar) a good slider," Wilson said, "but he had a good at-bat."

VIDEO REPLAY: Planted in a cushioned folding chair with a remote control firmly in hand, Albie Lopez went to school Sunday afternoon.

With pitching coach Bill Fischer looking on from behind, Lopez studied videotape of his performance against the Marlins on Saturday, when he gave up eight runs, three earned, and 10 hits in five innings and lost for the eighth time in nine starts.

"He's searching," Fischer said. "We all are. Heck, he's a big, important part of the team. He's healthy. If he had a bad arm it would be different, but he doesn't."

McRae is not considering moving Lopez to the bullpen.

"Nope," he said when asked about the possibility.

Lopez (3-9, 5.59) is scheduled to face the Yankees on Friday.

SURPRISE SPEEDSTER: Who knew Mike DiFelice was a threat to steal a base?

Apparently not the Marlins, or umpire Ron Kulpa, who couldn't have been more surprised when the catcher broke for second on a failed hit-and-run in the second inning.

Marlins second baseman Dave Berg appeared to tag a sliding DiFelice twice, but Kulpa ruled him safe.

It was DiFelice's second career stolen base and the seventh of his 10-year professional career. DiFelice's last stolen base in the majors came when the Cardinals played the Marlins on April 17, 1997.

"When you run that slow, I guess you can make your body do some things," he said. "It was a hit-and-run and the ball was in the dirt. I was just trying to avoid the tag and got lucky that he probably thought I was faster than I was."

SERIES SWEEPS: Sunday's loss marked the second time in team history the Rays swept a series, as they did against Philadelphia last week, then got swept.

The first time was in May 1998, when Tampa Bay beat the Orioles four times, then lost three to the Blue Jays.

ODDS AND ENDS: Players and coaches for both teams wore baby blue wristbands, blue eyeshade instead of black and temporary tattoos in the shape of ribbons in support of the Association for the Cure of Cancer of the Prostate (CaP CURE). ... Marlins leftfielder Cliff Floyd, who was 3-for-4 with four RBI on Saturday, was scratched with inflammation of his right Achilles' tendon. ... Kennedy got his first major-league hit, a single to leftfield in his second at-bat in the fourth inning.

You don't say

Rays manager Hal McRae didn't have special plans for Father's Day, other than getting back home after a three-game series against the Marlins, and he wasn't expecting anything other than cards as gifts from his three children, Brian, Cullen and Leah.

"I don't like crazy ties," he said. "I like to play it straight."

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