Sports: In a late Flash, Rays are winners again

ST. PETERSBURG -- Having survived the Twins and their own Esteban Yan to score an adventurous 4-3 victory on John Flaherty's 12th-inning home run Sunday, the Rays notched their second three-game winning streak of the season. They ensured their second winning homestand and eighth series win. They won for the 11th time in their past 21 games, marking the most successful stretch of their sorry season.

By most standards, the mileposts seem insignificant and certainly incongruous with the calendar. But the Rays, realizing where they are and what they are trying to do, would like to think they are starting something considerably more important.

"We're playing better and there's a better feeling in the dugout and there's more emotion on the field," manager Hal McRae said. "I think the infusion of the young guys has made the difference. They brought a lot of enthusiasm with them. They haven't been beaten up. They don't know what that's all about. They don't know that we're supposed to lose."

The changes, McRae said, are both tangible and intangible: "The energy they bring has made a difference. I enjoy watching them play more now and they seem to enjoy playing. And the veteran guys on the club seem to be energized by the young guys. The attitudes are different, and that's what we needed, an infusion of attitude. And we don't have to worry so much about morale now; morale is not a problem."

The win was the Rays' third straight against the AL Central-leading Twins and their 10th in the past 17 games against first-place teams, though with a squad of 11 rookies -- and a 12th, Bobby Seay, arriving today -- that doesn't seem to be the prime motivation.

"I just think we're playing good baseball right now," pitcher Tanyon Sturtze said. "With the young team that we have, I don't think we realize who we're playing right now. We're just going out, trying to play good baseball, and that's what we're doing.

"With the young kids here everyone seems to be having a good time and playing well. Once that goes around the clubhouse, it just starts feeding into everybody else."

Sunday's win seemed a prime example, featuring youthful exuberance and veteran experience.

Sturtze, the old man of the rotation at 30, was strong into the seventh and on track for what would have been his fifth win in his past seven starts. "I just feel real comfortable right now," he said.

The Rays got two runs on a second-inning homer by 30-year-old Chris Gomez, his fifth in 50 at-bats since joining the team July24. They got another despite baserunning blunders in the sixth when 23-year-old rookie Jared Sandberg, continuing his impressive debut week, singled in 24-year-old Aubrey Huff.

Sturtze left with a 3-2 lead, and Jesus Colome (21) and Doug Creek (32) did an excellent job of getting to the ninth and handing off to Yan, the embattled 27-year-old closer.

This time, trouble was just four pitches away, a tying home run by David Ortiz. It was the fifth homer Yan allowed in a span of 27 batters, and the fourth save he has blown in his last eight chances, his major-league leading eighth overall.

"This is something that will happen during the year," Yan said. "It might happen for a week, for a month, and then you come back."

There were a few scoring chances but not another run until the 12th, when Flaherty (Flash to his teammates) hit LaTroy Hawkins' first pitch over the leftfield fence, a day shy of the one-year anniversary of his walkoff homer that beat the White Sox.

"I thought I hit it good, but then I saw (leftfielder) Jacque Jones going after it like he had a play at the wall," Flaherty said. "Whenever I hit them, there's never 100 percent confidence that it's going out."

When they were done congratulating Flaherty at home plate, the Rays felt pretty good about themselves, enjoying the moment and the momentum. But they shouldn't lose track of where they are, and how far they have to go.

Even with a 14-16 record since the All-Star break, an 11-10 record since July 21, and a season-high matching three-game winning streak, consider this:

At 41-77, they have to win 22 of their final 44 games to avoid 100 losses.

Walkoff wonders

John Flaherty's 12th-inning homer gave the Rays their third walkoff win this season. It was the seventh time in their history they won with a walkoff home run:

		
        Date       Player          Result
        4/13/98    Bobby Smith     13-12 win over Twins in 14
		5/12/98    Kevin Stocker   6-5 win over Indians in 14
		4/22/00    Bubba Trammell  11-9 win over Angels in 10
		5/4/00     Greg Vaughn     9-7 win over Rangers in 11
		6/14/00    Fred McGriff    3-2 win over Angels in 9
		8/13/00    John Flaherty   5-3 win over White Sox in 9
		8/12/01    John Flaherty   4-3 win over Twins in 12

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