Sports: Fiore endures long trip to big leagues

Fiore endures long trip to big leagues

By MIKE READLING

ST. PETERSBURG -- Until Sunday, Tony Fiore's baseball career included 285 games pitched, 56 wins and 28 saves -- none above Triple A.

Saturday night, Fiore got the call he has been waiting "eight and then a little more" seasons for. That's when the Devil Rays called Fiore up to replace Tanyon Sturtze on the roster after Sturtze went on the disabled list.

For Fiore it was a dream come true. Little did he know it was about to become a nightmare.

Bad weather delayed his flight from Durham, N.C., to Baltimore. When the plane finally landed he jumped in a cab and hustled to Camden Yards, arriving with barely enough time to throw on his new uniform.

"I honestly got to the ballpark 15 minutes before the game started," Fiore said. "I got dressed and got out in the dugout just as they were playing the national anthem and then walked down to the bullpen during the first inning. The game was supposed to start at 1:30 but for some reason it started at 1:45. If it had started on time I would have been late."

Not only did he make the game on time, Fiore made an appearance. The 28-year old right-hander was called on to pitch the sixth, seventh and eighth innings of a 3-2 loss. He allowed two hits, struck out two and walked one.

"I was anxious to see how I would do up here," Fiore said. "But once I got on the mound everything seemed to close in and all I saw was the game. When I was done I looked around and saw all the fans and the stadium."

STURTZE HURTS: Sturtze said his strained oblique muscle felt better Monday but he was going to have X-rays after the game to make sure it was just a strain.

He said his doctors had no idea when he would be able to pitch again, but said it would not be any time in the next 5-7 days. In the meantime Sturtze will lift weights and hope his season will continue. "This is a strange injury. Nobody knows how quickly it's going to heal," Sturtze said.

Manager Larry Rothschild said even if Sturtze can't pitch again this season he has proven himself enough since his acquisition from the Chicago White Sox on May 31 to earn a shot at the starting rotation next spring.

"He's pitched his way into a situation where we have to give him a chance," Rothschild said.

NOW HITTING: Vinny Castilla took batting practice, fielded grounders and ran the bases for the first time since going on the disabled list Aug. 1 with an inflamed back.

Castilla, on the DL for the third time this season, said he felt no pain and hoped to be back in the lineup sometime next week. Rothschild said Castilla would probably make a couple of minor-league starts to get plate appearances before being activated.

"It's been a disappointing year. A lot of frustrations," Castilla said. "I felt good the first two weeks of the season and then my back started to bother me."

Castilla said he may play the final month of the Mexican season in an effort to get at-bats and stay in shape during the off-season. Last season was the first time in his career Castilla didn't play in the league.

Q SHOWS: Quinton McCracken reported to Triple-A Durham Friday, five days after he was demoted and two days later than the allotted 72-hour reporting window. Because of his tardiness, McCracken, who makes about $10,000 a day, was fined $50,000.

TONY ON THEIR MIND: E-mails from all across the nation poured into the Devil Rays' computers Monday showing support for Tony Saunders.

As of game time the team had received a two-inch stack of printed e-mail for the pitcher, who retired Saturday after fracturing his arm for a second time. HELP A BABY: The Devil Rays' wives will conduct a baby goods drive before Sunday's game in which fans are encouraged to bring diapers, non-perishable formula and other baby-related products. The proceeds will benefit the Alpha House in Tampa. Fans who bring items will receive a voucher good for one upper deck general admission ticket for any game between Sept. 15 and 20.