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Rays rally but stay in MLB basement

A 6-5 loss in 12 to Jays prevents four-game sweep, but Tampa Bay may yet shed label of game's worst.

By KEVIN KELLY

© St. Petersburg Times,
published October 1, 2001

ST. PETERSBURG -- The players had no idea.

And judging by the muffled cheers from those with portable radios pressed to their ears and binoculars focused on the televisions broadcasting the Bucs game, the fans, too, were unaware.

Had Tampa Bay not lost 6-5 to the Blue Jays in 12 innings before an oft-distracted 14,217 on Sunday at Tropicana Field, it would have climbed out of the major-league cellar for the first time since mid June.

"If we could've played the first half like we've played the second, we would not be even close," leftfielder Jason Tyner said. "A lot of us have only been here for the second half, so we're trying to finish strong."

The Rays, who ended a three-game winning streak and are two losses from 100, have a 30-37 record since the All-Star break.

That they even have a chance to do such an outlandish thing as pass the stigma as the worst team in baseball to the Pirates (58-98) is affirmation of how far this team has come since the losing started in April.

"We have confidence now," centerfielder Randy Winn said. "We have the attitude that we're not going to quit and we're going to play until the final out."

Once mentioned in the same breath with some of the worst teams to play a major-league schedule, Tampa Bay is inching toward respectability with a new attitude displayed prominently again against the Blue Jays.

Trailing 5-2 after seven innings and trying to sweep a four-game series for the second time this season, the Rays scored two in the eighth and one in the ninth on a single by shortstop Chris Gomez.

His hit allowed pinch-runner Damian Rolls to score from third for the 5-5 tie.

"These types of situations would have gotten away from us and we wouldn't have come back," manager Hal McRae said. "We wouldn't have put ourselves in position to win the game late."

Gomez's hit and the resulting run rewarded starter Joe Kennedy and reliever Jesus Colome for keeping their team close against a power-packed lineup.

Kennedy, 3-0 against the Blue Jays this season, pitched six innings and allowed four runs in the no-decision. "This game they found the holes," the rookie left-hander said. "The last game I pitched against them, they hit a lot of ground balls, a lot of fly balls that we were able to catch. Tonight they just found the holes and were able to score some runs."

Colome pitched the seventh through ninth and allowed a home run to Alex Gonzalez. He was replaced by Doug Creek.

The Blue Jays broke the tie in the 12th.

After Creek (2-5), a left-hander, intentionally walked right-handed Raul Mondesi -- McRae didn't want to give up a home run -- Carlos Delgado came to bat.

A left-handed batter, he reached out and stroked a single in the hole to leftfield that allowed Gonzalez enough time to beat Tyner's one-hop throw home.

"If I pop (a fastball) in there, I'll either knock him down or break his bat," Creek said. "That's how I got him out last time (a strikeout in the 10th). But the guy is a good hitter. He gets paid a lot of money to hit the baseball."

The Rays left four runners on base in the final four innings. They had a chance to tie the score again in the 12th, but with Steve Cox on first, rightfielder Ben Grieve hit a deep flyball to center to end the game.

Despite giving up six runs, Rays pitchers have allowed an average of 1.86 in their past seven games.

"Our pitching has been solid," Gomez said. "Whenever you can get that, it's fun to go out there and know you have a chance."

"We don't necessarily have to win the series all the time to get something out of it," Tyner said.

Tampa Bay (57-98) must go 6-1 in its remaining games against Boston and New York to avoid becoming the first team since the 1996 Tigers to lose 100 in a season.

"If you look at it overall, I think we had a great series," Gomez said. "Even though we lost, we showed that we could come back. ... You've got to just look at the way we've played and I think we've played well. We just didn't get the win today."

Rays makeup dates

Fans with tickets to the home games postponed Sept. 11-17 can use them for the corresponding rescheduled game or exchange them for ones of equal value for any remaining game at Tropicana Field. Tickets may be exchanged at the stadium box office or where they were purchased. For more information, call 1-888-FAN-RAYS.

(Opponent, Original date, Makeup date, Time)

Red Sox, Sept. 11,Today 7:15 p.m.

Red Sox, Sept. 12,Tuesday7:15 p.m.

Red Sox, Sept. 13,Wednesday 7:15 p.m.

Yankees, Sept. 17, Thursday 7:15 p.m.

Yankees, Sept. 14,Friday 7:15 p.m.

Yankees, Sept. 15,Saturday 4:15 p.m.

Yankees, Sept. 16,Sunday 1:15 p.m.

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