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Sturtze pays for mistake to Sox

Two pitches to Paul Konerko, rally-stopping steal attempt cost Rays.

By KEVIN KELLY

© St. Petersburg Times,
published August 25, 2001

ST. PETERSBURG -- It might be something as minor as a pitch that misses its intended target by an inch or a miscommunicated sign that manifests into something costly.

"There's always about two pitches," Rays catcher Toby Hall said, "where you look back at the end of the game and say, "You wish you would've had them in another location.' "

That was the case in Tampa Bay's 5-4 loss to Chicago on Friday at Tropicana Field.

The number of regretful moments for the Rays did include two pitches to Chicago's Paul Konerko, but also one rally-stopping steal attempt before an announced crowd of 10,650.

A home run in the first inning and three-run double in the third by Konerko forced the Rays to play from behind the rest of the game. The first baseman, who went 3-for-4 with 4 RBI, is hitting .444 with four homers and 10 RBI against Tampa Bay this season.

"We couldn't get Konerko out tonight," manager Hal McRae said. "He was swinging the bat well and saw the ball well. That was probably the difference in the ballgame, the fact that he came up with runners in scoring position and we couldn't get him out."

And just when Tampa Bay had something going in the eighth after Hall led off the inning with a single, he was thrown out trying to steal second.

McRae said it wasn't the fault of Hall, who stole eight bases in the minors, or that of Randy Winn, who was batting. And he really didn't say who was to blame.

"It was just a miscommunication," McRae said. "I had no visions of him stealing the bag. He didn't screw up. I will say that. It was just a miscommunication. ... I'm going to have to leave it at that."

Without those three moments, the Rays might have won for the 12th time this month thanks to Sturtze and an offense that had more success against White Sox starter Mark Buehrle than it did last time.

The four-game winning streak Buehrle (12-6) entered the game with began against the Rays on Aug. 3 at Comiskey Park. The left-hander allowed one hit and struck out three in a complete-game performance.

But facing him for the second time, the Rays managed four runs on eight hits, including Damian Rolls' home run in the seventh inning, in his 62/3 innings.

"He pitched very well," said Rolls, whose homer was his first since May 23. "He kept you guessing. He kept you off balance. We got him a little better tonight than we did the last time but he's a good pitcher."

Buehrle got the win Sturtze so badly wanted.

A victory would have pulled his record to .500 this season, but Sturtze, who came in with a three-game winning streak, is 8-10 despite pitching well in a season-high 81/3 innings.

"I felt like I had some of my best stuff of the year," Sturtze said. "Not to be able to get the win tonight was really disappointing."

Both of Konerko's hits came on fastballs. The second came with the bases loaded and two outs in the third after Sturtze walked Magglio Ordonez.

Konerko it the second pitch he saw off the top of the wall in left-centerfield.

Rolls jumped a little too soon and missed what could have been a spectacular catch to end the inning. The ball instead bounced off the padding, dropped to the ground and all three runners scored to make it 4-2.

"I wish I had that play back," Rolls said. "I know I could get it."

Tampa Bay had scored two in the second on a single by first baseman Steve Cox to take a 2-1 lead and scored one more in the third on a single to left by designated hitter Greg Vaughn to make it 4-3.

The White Sox added a run in the sixth and the Rays scored in the seventh on Rolls' homer.

Buehrle faced two more batters after Rolls before being relieved by Kip Wells, who gave up the single to Hall in the eighth. Keith Foulke pitched the ninth for his 34th save, and Doug Creek replaced Sturtze with one out in the ninth and retired both batters he faced.

Sturtze, who threw 113 pitches and struck out five, has gone seven or more innings in 11 of 21 starts.

"I thought Sturtze pitched well, pitched extremely well, and we were in the ballgame," McRae said. "We came up short but we were in the ballgame."

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