Place an Ad Calendars Classified Forums Sports Weather

sptimes.com Text-only News sections Arts & Entertainment AP The Wire Business Citrus County Columnists Floridian Hernando County Hillsborough Letters Movies Neighborhood Times News Update North Pinellas North of Tampa Obituaries Opinion Pasco County South Pinellas Sports State Tampa Bay TV Times World & Nation  Find your local news section Weekly sections Brandon Times City Times Homes Outdoors Perspective Personal Tech Taste Travel Weekend Xpress Special Sections Arena football Buccaneers College football Devil Rays Lightning Police reports Schools Seniority Subscriber Services Subscribe Renew Help Advertise Place an ad In print Online Market Info Join Us Internships Scholarships Times Jobs Contact us

Rays ready to finish strong

Third straight win over Yankees lifts Tampa Bay out of baseball's cellar.

By KEVIN KELLY

© St. Petersburg Times,
published October 7, 2001

ST. PETERSBURG -- One game remains.

But like the youngsters they are, the Rays want to stay out and play a little longer.

The offseason fishing trips, the golf and vacations can wait. Winning cannot.

"That just goes to show you what kind of team we are," catcher Toby Hall said. "We want to keep playing and playing. Nobody wants to play when you're losing and not having fun. Everybody realizes now what it feels like when you are winning."

Tampa Bay shed the "worst team in the majors" monicker it has lugged around since June 15 -- the Pirates lost their 100th Saturday -- and put off the possibility of losing its 100th game for another day by beating the Yankees 5-2 on Saturday at Tropicana Field.

The Rays have won eight of 10 and are 35-38 since the All-Star break. A win today would give them their first four-game sweep of the Yankees in franchise history.

"We're just having a wonderful time," manager Hal McRae said. "It's a shame that it's going to end tomorrow because we feel like we've jelled as a club. We've jelled late, but at least we have jelled." It is not one aspect of the Rays' play that is winning games lately. It's starting pitching. It's timely hitting. It's solid defense.

"That's what it takes to win against teams like (New York)," shortstop Chris Gomez said. "You're not going to win too many games if you're relying on one or two people. If you get on a good streak, that's what it takes."

Gomez put the Rays ahead 3-2 with a three-run homer in the sixth and ignited the crowd of 25,111.

His eighth home run of the season also salvaged a win for starter Tanyon Sturtze, who was on his way to either his 13th loss or a no-decision.

Sturtze, who began the season in the bullpen before pleading his way into the starting rotation and performing his way into a permanent spot, gave up two runs on seven hits in six innings against the Yankees.

Esteban Yan pitched 1 1/3 innings for his 22nd save.

"He sort of solidifies the rotation," McRae said of Sturtze. "He's the guy that's been giving us the innings. And he's the guy who's been most consistent."

Should the Rays win today in their final game, they can avoid becoming the first American League team since the 1996 Detroit Tigers to lose 100 games.

Players and coaches insist the mark isn't on their minds.

"I think everybody has been very honest to say it doesn't matter because we never thought about how many games we lost or the potential of how many games we could lose," McRae said.

"We've never talked about "We don't want to lose 100 ballgames.' It doesn't matter one iota. What difference does it make? One is not enough."

Yankees manager Joe Torre can relate.

Torre managed the 1979 Mets who put together a similar stretch run to avoid 100 losses. New York finished 63-99 that season by winning its final six. "If you're in that (100-loss) area, you need some work," Torre said. "But I think what Hal McRae, with good reason, has to think of is what's happened recently. That's really more what you gear your mind to.

"They've been a much better ballclub in the second half than they were in the first half. That's something to build on for a young club."

And it's something they hope to build on during spring training.

"It's tough to carry over from the last day of the season to the beginning of next season," McRae said. "I think we've learned how to win. We know what it takes to win."

This little burst of success in an otherwise dreadful season has bred confidence in the clubhouse.

"I think this team is going to finish the season with confidence one way or the other," outfielder Jason Tyner said. "We're playing good baseball against the defending world champs.

"You want to keep playing because the team is playing so well together. We're going to get our shot next year. I think everybody knows what they have to do now. We're not going to sneak up on people like we're doing right now."

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright