Cairo in the middle again

By BRANT JAMES

© St. Petersburg Times, published August 7, 2000

ST. PETERSBURG -- A day after drawing the walk that gave the Devil Rays an extra-inning victory against the Orioles, second baseman Miguel Cairo again found himself in a central role, though not so dramatic.

Cairo went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI, scored twice and made two defensive plays to help preserve a 5-4 lead in the sixth inning.

With two out and Chris Richard on third, Cairo made a quick step and leap to snare a shot from Brady Anderson and snuff the Orioles' last threat.

One batter earlier, with the infield in, Cairo ranged backward to field a high chopper from Ivanon Coffie, holding the runner and making the putout.

"I was surprised that he did not go," Cairo said. "I thought he was going to go on contact. He did not go and I went to first. That was pretty big."

Cairo also stole two bases to move him into seventh in the AL and within three of Randy Winn's team record of 26, set in 1998. Allowed to steal at his discretion, he said he plans to obliterate Winn's milestone.

"If I play every day I can steal 40-45," he said. "In June I didn't play almost a month and I still have 23 now."

Cairo lost his job in June to Bobby Smith, but has started 21 of the past 26 games since Smith went on the disabled list with a sprained knee.

HOT: Greg Vaughn continues to do what half of "The Hit Show" cannot: stay productive while playing through injury. Vaughn, who strained his shoulder last week in Kansas City ("It's not getting any better," he said.) homered for the third consecutive game, and took the team lead from Fred McGriff with 20. Vaughn finished 2-for-3 with three RBI, raising his average to .294. He reached base 16 of 27 plate appearances against the Orioles.

"I'm seeing the ball pretty good right now," he said.

HARPER BIZARRE: That the Rays bullpen pitched 171/3 innings in the first two games of the series had much to do with the demotion of rookie Travis Harper and the promotion of Cory Lidle.

That Harper has been deemed by the organization in need of more Triple-A seasoning also was a factor. His major-debut on Friday -- seven runs allowed on eight hits in 22/3 innings -- was not, according to manager Larry Rothschild.

"It'll help Travis to go to Triple A and get some innings in and work on a couple of things he needs to work on," Rothschild said. "I'm not going to judge anybody on one start. That would be ridiculous."

Harper preferred to think about his next start.

"Fair does not matter," he said. "What matters is I go out there every fifth day and do the best I can and work on my game, like any other pitcher."

Lidle said he has been told he will relieve exclusively, even though a spot is open in the rotation on Wednesday. Lidle said he could make that start if needed despite pitching three innings on Sunday.

Another option is Dave Eiland, who returned Sunday to St. Petersburg from a rehabilitation assignment at Durham. Eiland, who came off the disabled list June 8, said his injured left hip has healed, and that he, too, would be ready to start on Wednesday.

"It's fine," he said. "Absolutely, I'm ready to go. My last two starts have been the best I've pitched in a long time. There's no limitations right now whatsoever."

CAROLINA ON HIS MIND: Tony Saunders is scheduled to make his second rehab start tonight for Class A Charleston.

"I'm more advanced than they thought I would be," he said. "Hopefully by the end of this month I should be ready to go."

Saunders has not appeared in a major-league game since breaking his left arm making a pitch in a May 26 game at Tropicana Field.

DOUBLE TROUBLE: The Rays extended a club record by hitting into a double play for the 13th consecutive game.

ROLLS NEARLY READY: Minor-league third baseman Damian Rolls, who had shoulder surgery on March 31, is scheduled to begin a rehabilitation assignment on Friday with the St. Petersburg Rays.

© St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.

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