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Kennedy closes out solid rookie season

© St. Petersburg Times,
published October 6, 2001

ST. PETERSBURG -- When compared to where Joe Kennedy started this season, it's all the more impressive to see where he finished Friday.

The 22-year-old began the season with Double-A Orlando and ended it 190 2/3 innings later by outperforming the best pitcher in the AL this season.

Sharing the mound with Yankees starter Roger Clemens, Kennedy turned in a solid performance in his final start.

"This season is something you dream about," said Kennedy, who finishes with a 7-8 record. "It's something you want to happen, but it's not something that happens."

The rookie from California allowed four runs on seven hits and struck out six in six innings against the defending World Champions.

It marked the fourth consecutive victory for the left-hander, who won his first two career starts after being recalled from Triple-A Durham on June 1 and then lost seven in a row.

"This year was just all about experience and getting my feet wet," he said. "To get wins on top of that makes you feel that much better."

Having never played above Class A before this season, Kennedy threw 57 1/3 more innings this season than he had before. He finished with a 4.44 ERA, 78 strikeouts in 117 2/3 innings.

"He made a lot of progress," manager Hal McRae said.

Added Kennedy: "It's been a great experience and I'm looking forward to coming back next year and doing this all over again."

BUILDING CONFIDENCE: The difference now is his attitude.

"This game is pretty much all confidence," designated hitter Aubrey Huff said. "When you're going good, you feel like every ball you hit is going to be hard. But there's times when you feel like there's no chance."

In a season in which he's played three positions and had stints in the minors, Huff is finishing well enough that there are good things to build on during the offseason.

Though hitting .156 in eight games leading up to Friday, Huff had hit home runs on consecutive nights. In his first two at bats against Clemens, Huff singled twice and scored twice.

"Maybe this is something I can take into next year, make my offseason little bit lighter," he said. "Hopefully I can come back next year with a little bit more confidence."

WINTER BALL: Plans to send some Rays out of the country to play winter ball this offseason have been put on hold since the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11.

Some players have expressed concern to McRae about their safety if something were to happen and they were playing outside the United States.

"We haven't addressed that," McRae said. "That's something tricky. I've sort of stayed away from it. ... I mean, what do you say?"

DOUBLE TIME: For the second game in a row, shortstop Chris Gomez extended the Rays' major-league leading streak for consecutive games with at least one double. It's at 43.

Gomez hit a two-run double in the second inning and added another in the seventh.

ODDS AND ENDS: Officials from the Tokyo Dome and Yomiuri Giants toured Tropicana Field before Friday's game and inspected the FieldTurf. ... Two players will be recognized as the Rays' top minor league players this season before today's game.

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