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Wilson loses but perseveres

Rays fall 10-3 to Yanks but are encouraged by 131-pitch outing that gives pen a rest.

By KEVIN KELLY

© St. Petersburg Times,
published August 16, 2001

NEW YORK -- He felt more fatigued than usual.

But Paul Wilson's right arm, the one which has defined his major-league career because of injuries, felt fine despite throwing 131 pitches during the Rays' 10-3 loss to the Yankees on Wednesday.

"If there's one positive that I can take out of this game it's that I battled my a-- off and I upped the pitch count a whole lot today," said Wilson (5-8), who lost for the first time in five starts. "It's not exactly a positive that you look for, but you've got to take a positive somewhere."

The season-high pitch count by Wilson, who lasted 62/3 innings and allowed eight runs before an announced 32,103 at Yankee Stadium, was what manager Hal McRae wanted for various intertwined reasons.

"This is the first time he's done it all year and I think that was a major hurdle," McRae said. "It was a big test for Paul because he hasn't thrown that many and he's been carefully monitored. He'll get an extra day's rest after this outing."

The bullpen got its extra day off Wednesday.

McRae has spent the past two games trying to rest his relievers after they were overworked during a seven-game homestand that ended Monday.

Relievers Jesus Colome, Doug Creek, Travis Phelps, Esteban Yan and Victor Zambrano combined for 222/3 innings during the home-stand.

Only rookies Jason Standridge and Bobby Seay have pitched in relief against the Yankees, though every reliever was healthy and available to pitch Wednesday.

Seay pitched 11/3 and allowed two runs.

"We can't tax the bullpen like we did last week," McRae said. "We were on a roll and winning some games, starting to win games, and those guys were overworked."

McRae would like to see his starters go longer so this doesn't become an issue the rest of the season.

Rays starters have lasted a little less than the league average of 5.94 innings this season, and only one Tampa Bay pitcher (Albie Lopez on April 13) has thrown a complete game.

"I think any staff, as the season progresses, the pitch count builds," Wilson said. "But I think you earn your pitch count. You earn that. If you go out there in five innings and throw 115 pitches, I don't think you deserve that."

The Yankees, who scored five runs in the first three innings off Wilson, don't seem to have that problem right now.

Atop the American League East, New York has pitchers such as Roger Clemens to rely on and a bullpen that ranks among the best in the majors.

The five-time Cy Young Award winner, who moved into fourth on the all-time strikeout list this season, became the sixth pitcher to win 16 of his first 17 decisions.

He joined Rube Marquard, Guy Bush, Don Newcombe, Elroy Face and Dave McNally by pitching seven quality innings against the Rays.

"They got five runs and that put a lot of pressure on our offense," Wilson said. "You can't do that here, especially when Roger's pitching and you're at Yankee Stadium."

Clemens had a perfect game until walking second baseman Brent Abernathy with one out in the fourth, and he took a no-hitter into the fifth.

Rays catcher Toby Hall, the second batter of the inning, hit a slow grounder to third base that Clay Bellinger attempted to barehand but couldn't grab. Clemens gave up two more hits during the inning, including a two-run single by shortstop Chris Gomez that trimmed the Yankees' lead to three.

Pulled after a five-run seventh by New York, Clemens finished with eight strikeouts and three walks.

Tampa Bay, which made three errors to break a five-game errorless streak, scored its third run of the game on a run-scoring double by Hall in the ninth. New York was paced by third baseman Bellinger, who went 2-for-5 with two homers and four RBI.

The Rays have lost two straight after sweeping the Twins at home.

"It's a disappointment to lose, but we've got to keep everything in perspective," McRae said. "We want to win but it's not a big setback because we were beat by the New York Yankees. ... We're still playing good baseball."

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