OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - 2004 Tampa Bay Devil Rays: Youth Brings Hope

BostonRS14 · 07-29-2004, 01:05 AM

Late Error Costly in loss to White Sox
Game 16: Tampa Bay 2, Chicago 5

Despite another rocky start from Jeff Suppan, it was the Tampa Bay bullpen once again that let the game slip away. Solo homeruns from Timo Perez and Paul Konerko gave the White sox the early lead that Mark Buehrle was able to hold onto.

The Devil Rays wasted a bases loaded situation in the 5th when Jose cruz hit a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded to score Julio Lugo. Aubrey Huff was unable to do anymore damage, as he was caught looking at a nasty slider on the outside corner to end the inning. Chicago got the run right back in the bottom of the 5th with a run-scoring ground out by Jose Valetin.

The White Sox stretched the lead to 5-1 in the bottom of the 8th. An error by Lugo on a easy ground ball off Aaron Rowand's bat gave the Sox's runners on the corners with one out. Juan Uribe and Joe Thurston each followed with two-out RBI-singles before Joe Borchard was retired for the final out of the inning.

Eduardo Perez drove in a run in the ninth to make it a three run defecit before Damaso Marte struck out Tino Martinez swining to end the game.

W: Mark Buehrle (2-2); L: Jeff Suppan (1-2); SV: Damaso Marte (4)
Player of the Game: Mark Buehrle. 6 IP, 8 hits, 1 R, 5 K's, 100 PI.
Game Notes: 57 minute rain delay in 3rd inning. Julio Lugo set a career high for hits (5) in a game!

Poor Bullpen Makes Ritchie Unfortunate Loser
Game 17: Tampa Bay 2, Chicago 3

Jose Valentin's game-winning run was charged to starter Todd Ricthie, but the blame for this loss rests entirely on the shoulders of the Devil Rays bullpen. Once again, Tampa was unable to keep the inherited runners from scoring late in the game. This time, it was closer Danys Baez who was the goat, surrendering a double to Frank Thomas that easily allowed Valentin to score all the way from first with the final run.

Richtie, much like Jeff Suppan the day before, was victimiez by two solo homeruns off the bats of Paul Konerko and Magglio Ordonez.

The Rays got their first run in the top of the 5th. Toby Hall scored Tino Martinez from second with a RBI-single down the first baseline. Rocoo Baldelli scored the second run on a throwing error by Ordonez in the 6th. Tagging up after a Jose Cruz fly out, Baldelli easily scored when Ordonez's throw home sailed past Miguel Olivo.

W: Esteban Loaiza (2-1); Todd Ritchie (1-1)
Player of the Game: Esteban Loaiza. 9 IP, 4 Hits, 2 Runs, 1 ER, 4 K's, 100 PI.

Bullpen blows another D-Ray win
Game 18: Tampa Bay 7, Chicago 8

Tampa Bay has proven that it can put runs on the board this season, accumulating 106, the 11th most in the league. Of course, its pitching staff has allowed 109, the 6th most in the league. It is easy to see the problem with this club. And late loss had manager Lou Pinella fuming: "We have to rethink our bullpen. I'm going to have a good long chat with the guys down there, but I see a shakeup coming soon if things don't get fixed fast! Our guys are working their butts off, but how can we expect to win when the game that is supposed to be our closer has a ERA over 7! Other teams are batting almost .300 of him. There are a more problems down there than solutions right now. If things don't work themselves out soon, some guys are gonna be looking for work!"

For the second day in a row, it was Danys Baez, brought to the club to close games, that was standing on the mound when the opposing teams scored their game winning runs. Joe Crede's two-run homerun off Baez in the 8th gave the White Sox the come from behind win and allowed them to sweep the three game series. It also capped off the season series, which went to the White Sox, 5 games to 1.

After falling behind 6-4, the Devil Rays scored three runs in the 5th off starter Scott Schoeneweis to take a 7-6 lead. The highlight of the inning was Aubrey Huff's baseloaded single which scored Eduardo Perez and Tino Martinez and gave Tampa the lead. Perez had four RBIs on the day, including three on homerun in the 3rd off schoeneweis. Jose Cruz also went deep, hitting his fourth of the season in the 2nd.

Fortunately for Danys Baez, the Devil Rays will not face Chicago again this season unless both clubs make the playoffs. In four appearances against the White Sox this season, Baez has allowed seven runs in 2.2 innings of work. His ERA in the four appearances is 23.63!

W: Shingo Takatsu (1-0); Danys Baez (0-1); SV: Damaso Marte (5-)
Player of the Game: Joe Crede. 4-5, 2 2B (3), HR (6), 2 Runs, 4 RBIs (14)
Game Notes: Jose Cruz hit the longest homer of his career, it went 436 feet. Joe Crede set a career high for RBI (4) in a game! Joe Crede set a career high for hits (4) in a game!

American League East Standings: (04/27)

Code:


Team       W-L   PCT  GB  Streak Last 10
New York  12-8, .600        W7    8-2
Boston    11-9, .550 -1.0   L4    4-6
Tampa Bay 8-10, .444 -3.0   L3    3-7
Toronto   8-11, .421 -3.5   L3    4-6
Baltimore 8-12, .400 -4.0   W3    5-5

07-29-2004, 01:05 AM	#27
BostonRS14 All Star Starter Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Boston Posts: 1,029	Late Error Costly in loss to White Sox Game 16: Tampa Bay 2, Chicago 5 Despite another rocky start from Jeff Suppan, it was the Tampa Bay bullpen once again that let the game slip away. Solo homeruns from Timo Perez and Paul Konerko gave the White sox the early lead that Mark Buehrle was able to hold onto. The Devil Rays wasted a bases loaded situation in the 5th when Jose cruz hit a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded to score Julio Lugo. Aubrey Huff was unable to do anymore damage, as he was caught looking at a nasty slider on the outside corner to end the inning. Chicago got the run right back in the bottom of the 5th with a run-scoring ground out by Jose Valetin. The White Sox stretched the lead to 5-1 in the bottom of the 8th. An error by Lugo on a easy ground ball off Aaron Rowand's bat gave the Sox's runners on the corners with one out. Juan Uribe and Joe Thurston each followed with two-out RBI-singles before Joe Borchard was retired for the final out of the inning. Eduardo Perez drove in a run in the ninth to make it a three run defecit before Damaso Marte struck out Tino Martinez swining to end the game. W: Mark Buehrle (2-2); L: Jeff Suppan (1-2); SV: Damaso Marte (4) Player of the Game: Mark Buehrle. 6 IP, 8 hits, 1 R, 5 K's, 100 PI. Game Notes: 57 minute rain delay in 3rd inning. Julio Lugo set a career high for hits (5) in a game! Poor Bullpen Makes Ritchie Unfortunate Loser Game 17: Tampa Bay 2, Chicago 3 Jose Valentin's game-winning run was charged to starter Todd Ricthie, but the blame for this loss rests entirely on the shoulders of the Devil Rays bullpen. Once again, Tampa was unable to keep the inherited runners from scoring late in the game. This time, it was closer Danys Baez who was the goat, surrendering a double to Frank Thomas that easily allowed Valentin to score all the way from first with the final run. Richtie, much like Jeff Suppan the day before, was victimiez by two solo homeruns off the bats of Paul Konerko and Magglio Ordonez. The Rays got their first run in the top of the 5th. Toby Hall scored Tino Martinez from second with a RBI-single down the first baseline. Rocoo Baldelli scored the second run on a throwing error by Ordonez in the 6th. Tagging up after a Jose Cruz fly out, Baldelli easily scored when Ordonez's throw home sailed past Miguel Olivo. W: Esteban Loaiza (2-1); Todd Ritchie (1-1) Player of the Game: Esteban Loaiza. 9 IP, 4 Hits, 2 Runs, 1 ER, 4 K's, 100 PI. Bullpen blows another D-Ray win Game 18: Tampa Bay 7, Chicago 8 Tampa Bay has proven that it can put runs on the board this season, accumulating 106, the 11th most in the league. Of course, its pitching staff has allowed 109, the 6th most in the league. It is easy to see the problem with this club. And late loss had manager Lou Pinella fuming: "We have to rethink our bullpen. I'm going to have a good long chat with the guys down there, but I see a shakeup coming soon if things don't get fixed fast! Our guys are working their butts off, but how can we expect to win when the game that is supposed to be our closer has a ERA over 7! Other teams are batting almost .300 of him. There are a more problems down there than solutions right now. If things don't work themselves out soon, some guys are gonna be looking for work!" For the second day in a row, it was Danys Baez, brought to the club to close games, that was standing on the mound when the opposing teams scored their game winning runs. Joe Crede's two-run homerun off Baez in the 8th gave the White Sox the come from behind win and allowed them to sweep the three game series. It also capped off the season series, which went to the White Sox, 5 games to 1. After falling behind 6-4, the Devil Rays scored three runs in the 5th off starter Scott Schoeneweis to take a 7-6 lead. The highlight of the inning was Aubrey Huff's baseloaded single which scored Eduardo Perez and Tino Martinez and gave Tampa the lead. Perez had four RBIs on the day, including three on homerun in the 3rd off schoeneweis. Jose Cruz also went deep, hitting his fourth of the season in the 2nd. Fortunately for Danys Baez, the Devil Rays will not face Chicago again this season unless both clubs make the playoffs. In four appearances against the White Sox this season, Baez has allowed seven runs in 2.2 innings of work. His ERA in the four appearances is 23.63! W: Shingo Takatsu (1-0); Danys Baez (0-1); SV: Damaso Marte (5-) Player of the Game: Joe Crede. 4-5, 2 2B (3), HR (6), 2 Runs, 4 RBIs (14) Game Notes: Jose Cruz hit the longest homer of his career, it went 436 feet. Joe Crede set a career high for RBI (4) in a game! Joe Crede set a career high for hits (4) in a game! American League East Standings: (04/27) Code: Team W-L PCT GB Streak Last 10 New York 12-8, .600 W7 8-2 Boston 11-9, .550 -1.0 L4 4-6 Tampa Bay 8-10, .444 -3.0 L3 3-7 Toronto 8-11, .421 -3.5 L3 4-6 Baltimore 8-12, .400 -4.0 W3 5-5