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

BostonRS14 · 08-27-2004, 12:41 PM

Rays pound O's, move out of basement in East
Game 54: Tampa Bay 12, Baltimore 3

Tino Martinez said before the game he was tired of seeing his starters losing confidence on the mound when they weren't perfect becuase the offense was giving them enough leads. In repsonse to a closed door meeting, the Devil Rays scored 8 runs in the final three innings to blow out the Orioles in the opener of a three game set of the bottom dwelling AL East ballclubs.

Despite the final score, this game was close until two runs in the 8th were followed by 5 in the ninth for a strong nine run win.

Jeff Suppan started for Tampa and snapped his personal seven game losing streak with six hits scattered over seven innings. Larry Bigbie's two-run homerun in the bottom of the 5th cut the lead to one, but Suppan reitred the next three batters in the inning to stop the rally. Javy Lopez led off the inning with a solo shot to deep left-center before JT Snow singled to bring up Bigbie.

The Devil Rays scored first with four runs in the 5th off starter Eric Dubose. Matt Diaz started things off with a one-out single to left. Mike Redmond followed with an RBI-double down the left field line, scoring Diaz with the game's first run. Tino Martinez got his first RBI of the night with a single to right that drove home Redmond without a throw. Edurado Perez, who is batting one-hundred and fifty points higher against lefties than righties this season, followed Martinez with a two-run homerun that landed in the Baltimore bullpen in left-center.

Aubrey Huff added a sacrifice fly in the 7th for an insurance run before Tampa broke the game open in the 8th. Geoff Blum and Matt Diaz hit solo-homeruns off reliever Rick Bauer for a four run lead. Diaz's homerun, which traveled an estimated 366 feet to right field was the first of his brief major league career.

With a comfortable four run lead and Jeff Suppan already hitting the showers, the Devil Rays got a few more runs for good measure in the ninth. Frank Menechino led off the inning with a solo homerun to left field against Bauer. Julio Lugo and Geoff Blum each followed with singles before B.J. Ryan was summoned from the 'pen. Carl Crawford, the first batter faced by Ryan, walked and Diaz grounded into a fielders choice, forcing Lugo out at home. With the bases still loaded, Tino Martinez slammed the first offering from Ryan to the deepest park of the ball park, easily clearing the centerfield wall for the Grand Slam homerun. After singles to Perez and Huff, Felix Heredia came in an struck out Menehcino to end the inning.

Tampa Bay Devil Ray first baseman Tino Martinez is greeted by
teammates after hitting a Grand Slam homerun in the ninth
inning at Orioles Park.

Jesus Colome worked the final two innings for his first save of the season. In 4 appearances this season, Colome has yet to allow a run.

W: Jeff Suppan (2-7, 5.45); L: Eric Dubose (4-4, 4.85); SV: Jesus Colome (1, 0.00)
Player of the Game: Tino Martinez. 4-6, GS_HR (7), 2 Runs, 5 RBIs (19)
Game Notes: Matt Diaz hit the longest homer of his career, it went 366 feet. Mike Redmond set a career high for hits (4) in a game! Frank Menechino hit the longest homer of his career, it went 388 feet. Tino Martinez set a career high for RBI (5) in a game!

Reyes continues struggles, O's take game in 9th
Game 55: Tampa Bay 5, Baltimore 6

Al Reyes might not have earned the loss against the Orioles, but his ninth inning performance was clearly to blame. Coming into a tied game with a runner on second and no outs is a tough position, but to be a successful closer in this league, these situations must be handled. A bobbled bunt attempt by Reyes allowed Jay Gibbons to advance Larry Bigbie to third base. Jerry Hairston took one for the team when he leaned a bit into an inside fastball to load the bases with no outs. Not messing around, Melvin Mora drove the first offering from Reyes to deep left field, just far enough for Bidgbie to score the game winning run without a throw.

Mora's solo homerun to lead off the game against Todd Ritchie gave the Orioles a brief lead, before Eduardo Perez launched a three-run bomb to deep centerfield. Perez, who has gone deep in his last three games, is not half way to his season best of 16 he hits in 1997 with Cincinnati. Geoff Blum added his 6th homerun of the season in the 4th inning off starter Rodrigo Lopez for a three run lead.

Baltimore would tie the game at four in the bottom of the 5th when Todd Ritchie got into some trouble keeping the ball off the bats of the O's. JT Snow and Larry Bigbie led off with singles, and advanced to second and third on a Jay Gibbons's fist sacrifice bunt of the season. Hairston grounded out to Frank Menechino to score Snow. After walking Mora, Ritchie surrendered a run-scoring single to Miguel Tejada to tie the game.

Jay Gibbons solo homerun in the bottom of the 7th gave the O's a brief lead that Tampa took away in the following half inning with a RBI-double from Geoff Blum. Jonny Gomes, who has come into the game as a pinch runner for Aubrey Huff, scored easily from second on the play.

Bobby Seay, who replaced Ritchie after the Gibbons' homerun, worked two innings of hitless relief before allowing the lead off double to Bigbie in the ninth.

W: Jorge Julio (1-3, 7.00); L: Bobby Seay (0-2, 11.37)
Player of the Game: Miguel Tejada. 3-4, 2B (8), R, RBI (25)
Game Notes: Carl Crawford sets a new single season Team Record for Stolen Bases with 31! Jay Gibbons hit the longest homer of his career, it went 456 feet.

Zambrano looks strong, Rays take series finale to stay out of cellar
Game 56: Tampa Bay 4, Baltimore 3

Victor Zambrano was all smiles sitting in front of his locker after earning just his second victory of the season.

"It was a big game for me. I wanted to prove that I could be counted on. We moved out of 5th place for the first time in a long while, and it feels good. Now we have to turn our sights to 4th place Toronto and star chipping away there."

Tampa Bay starter Victor Zambrano, shown above
warming up before the game, pitched eight innings
to earn his second victory in 13 starts.

In earning his first victory since early April, Zambrano survived scttering six hits by striking out 8 Orioles batters. Sidney Ponson, who got the start for the Orioles, pitch well, but was outdueled by Zambrano on the night. Ponson was victimized by a season high 11 hits before exiting after 7 with a tied ballgame.

Fred McGriff continued his climb to 500 with his 497th homerun in the 2nd inning off Ponson. McGriff moved one ahead of Cincinnati Red Ken Griffey, Jr. in the chase to join the elite club.

Baltimore took the lead in the bottom of the inning when Zambrano seemed to lose control of his pitches momentarily. After loading the bases on two walks and a single, Zambrano hit Melvin Mora to force in th tying run and followed that up with a wild pitch to Miguel Tejada that allowed Keith Osik to walk in from third. After a brief meeting with Mike Redmond, Zambrano shaked off the wildness and retired Tejada with a fly ball to centerfield.

Frank Menechino's single to right field in the top of the 3rd tied the game at two. With Mike Redmond on second and Matt Diaz on first, Redmond smacked a 2-2 offering from Ponson cleanly into right, scoring Redman without a throw.

Rafael Palmeiro took back the lead for Baltimore in the 5th with a RBI-single to center that scored Jerry Hairston from second with the third run of the night for the O's. Luis Matos followed Palmeiro with a single, but Raffy was thrown out by Diaz trying to advance to third on the play. Hairston had led off the inning with a double.

The Devil Rays took the lead for good in the 8th, after Buddy Groom was called out of the bullpen to replace a worn out Sidney Ponson. With Eduaro Perez already on first, Groom retired the first two batters he faced before Tino Martinez doubled Perez home from first with a shot off the rightfield scoreboard. Julio Lugo followed with a single to the right-center gap that scored pinch runner Jonny Gomes from second with the game winning run. Gomes came into the game when Martinez had to leave after injuring his hamstring muscle rounding first base. Al Reyes relieved Zambrano to start the ninth and work a perfect inning to earn his 6th save of the season.

W: Victor Zambrano (2-4, 5.47); L: Jorge Julio (1-4, 7.16); SV: Al Reyes (6, 5.19)
Player of the Game: Victor Zambrano. 8 IP, 6 Hits, 3 Runs, 2 BB's, 8 K's, 115 PI.
Game Notes: Rocco Baldelli sets a new single season Team Record for Stolen Bases with 31! Tino Martinez was injured while running the bases.

08-27-2004, 12:41 PM	#73
BostonRS14 All Star Starter Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Boston Posts: 1,029	Rays pound O's, move out of basement in East Game 54: Tampa Bay 12, Baltimore 3 Tino Martinez said before the game he was tired of seeing his starters losing confidence on the mound when they weren't perfect becuase the offense was giving them enough leads. In repsonse to a closed door meeting, the Devil Rays scored 8 runs in the final three innings to blow out the Orioles in the opener of a three game set of the bottom dwelling AL East ballclubs. Despite the final score, this game was close until two runs in the 8th were followed by 5 in the ninth for a strong nine run win. Jeff Suppan started for Tampa and snapped his personal seven game losing streak with six hits scattered over seven innings. Larry Bigbie's two-run homerun in the bottom of the 5th cut the lead to one, but Suppan reitred the next three batters in the inning to stop the rally. Javy Lopez led off the inning with a solo shot to deep left-center before JT Snow singled to bring up Bigbie. The Devil Rays scored first with four runs in the 5th off starter Eric Dubose. Matt Diaz started things off with a one-out single to left. Mike Redmond followed with an RBI-double down the left field line, scoring Diaz with the game's first run. Tino Martinez got his first RBI of the night with a single to right that drove home Redmond without a throw. Edurado Perez, who is batting one-hundred and fifty points higher against lefties than righties this season, followed Martinez with a two-run homerun that landed in the Baltimore bullpen in left-center. Aubrey Huff added a sacrifice fly in the 7th for an insurance run before Tampa broke the game open in the 8th. Geoff Blum and Matt Diaz hit solo-homeruns off reliever Rick Bauer for a four run lead. Diaz's homerun, which traveled an estimated 366 feet to right field was the first of his brief major league career. With a comfortable four run lead and Jeff Suppan already hitting the showers, the Devil Rays got a few more runs for good measure in the ninth. Frank Menechino led off the inning with a solo homerun to left field against Bauer. Julio Lugo and Geoff Blum each followed with singles before B.J. Ryan was summoned from the 'pen. Carl Crawford, the first batter faced by Ryan, walked and Diaz grounded into a fielders choice, forcing Lugo out at home. With the bases still loaded, Tino Martinez slammed the first offering from Ryan to the deepest park of the ball park, easily clearing the centerfield wall for the Grand Slam homerun. After singles to Perez and Huff, Felix Heredia came in an struck out Menehcino to end the inning. Tampa Bay Devil Ray first baseman Tino Martinez is greeted by teammates after hitting a Grand Slam homerun in the ninth inning at Orioles Park. Jesus Colome worked the final two innings for his first save of the season. In 4 appearances this season, Colome has yet to allow a run. W: Jeff Suppan (2-7, 5.45); L: Eric Dubose (4-4, 4.85); SV: Jesus Colome (1, 0.00) Player of the Game: Tino Martinez. 4-6, GS_HR (7), 2 Runs, 5 RBIs (19) Game Notes: Matt Diaz hit the longest homer of his career, it went 366 feet. Mike Redmond set a career high for hits (4) in a game! Frank Menechino hit the longest homer of his career, it went 388 feet. Tino Martinez set a career high for RBI (5) in a game! Reyes continues struggles, O's take game in 9th Game 55: Tampa Bay 5, Baltimore 6 Al Reyes might not have earned the loss against the Orioles, but his ninth inning performance was clearly to blame. Coming into a tied game with a runner on second and no outs is a tough position, but to be a successful closer in this league, these situations must be handled. A bobbled bunt attempt by Reyes allowed Jay Gibbons to advance Larry Bigbie to third base. Jerry Hairston took one for the team when he leaned a bit into an inside fastball to load the bases with no outs. Not messing around, Melvin Mora drove the first offering from Reyes to deep left field, just far enough for Bidgbie to score the game winning run without a throw. Mora's solo homerun to lead off the game against Todd Ritchie gave the Orioles a brief lead, before Eduardo Perez launched a three-run bomb to deep centerfield. Perez, who has gone deep in his last three games, is not half way to his season best of 16 he hits in 1997 with Cincinnati. Geoff Blum added his 6th homerun of the season in the 4th inning off starter Rodrigo Lopez for a three run lead. Baltimore would tie the game at four in the bottom of the 5th when Todd Ritchie got into some trouble keeping the ball off the bats of the O's. JT Snow and Larry Bigbie led off with singles, and advanced to second and third on a Jay Gibbons's fist sacrifice bunt of the season. Hairston grounded out to Frank Menechino to score Snow. After walking Mora, Ritchie surrendered a run-scoring single to Miguel Tejada to tie the game. Jay Gibbons solo homerun in the bottom of the 7th gave the O's a brief lead that Tampa took away in the following half inning with a RBI-double from Geoff Blum. Jonny Gomes, who has come into the game as a pinch runner for Aubrey Huff, scored easily from second on the play. Bobby Seay, who replaced Ritchie after the Gibbons' homerun, worked two innings of hitless relief before allowing the lead off double to Bigbie in the ninth. W: Jorge Julio (1-3, 7.00); L: Bobby Seay (0-2, 11.37) Player of the Game: Miguel Tejada. 3-4, 2B (8), R, RBI (25) Game Notes: Carl Crawford sets a new single season Team Record for Stolen Bases with 31! Jay Gibbons hit the longest homer of his career, it went 456 feet. Zambrano looks strong, Rays take series finale to stay out of cellar Game 56: Tampa Bay 4, Baltimore 3 Victor Zambrano was all smiles sitting in front of his locker after earning just his second victory of the season. "It was a big game for me. I wanted to prove that I could be counted on. We moved out of 5th place for the first time in a long while, and it feels good. Now we have to turn our sights to 4th place Toronto and star chipping away there." Tampa Bay starter Victor Zambrano, shown above warming up before the game, pitched eight innings to earn his second victory in 13 starts. In earning his first victory since early April, Zambrano survived scttering six hits by striking out 8 Orioles batters. Sidney Ponson, who got the start for the Orioles, pitch well, but was outdueled by Zambrano on the night. Ponson was victimized by a season high 11 hits before exiting after 7 with a tied ballgame. Fred McGriff continued his climb to 500 with his 497th homerun in the 2nd inning off Ponson. McGriff moved one ahead of Cincinnati Red Ken Griffey, Jr. in the chase to join the elite club. Baltimore took the lead in the bottom of the inning when Zambrano seemed to lose control of his pitches momentarily. After loading the bases on two walks and a single, Zambrano hit Melvin Mora to force in th tying run and followed that up with a wild pitch to Miguel Tejada that allowed Keith Osik to walk in from third. After a brief meeting with Mike Redmond, Zambrano shaked off the wildness and retired Tejada with a fly ball to centerfield. Frank Menechino's single to right field in the top of the 3rd tied the game at two. With Mike Redmond on second and Matt Diaz on first, Redmond smacked a 2-2 offering from Ponson cleanly into right, scoring Redman without a throw. Rafael Palmeiro took back the lead for Baltimore in the 5th with a RBI-single to center that scored Jerry Hairston from second with the third run of the night for the O's. Luis Matos followed Palmeiro with a single, but Raffy was thrown out by Diaz trying to advance to third on the play. Hairston had led off the inning with a double. The Devil Rays took the lead for good in the 8th, after Buddy Groom was called out of the bullpen to replace a worn out Sidney Ponson. With Eduaro Perez already on first, Groom retired the first two batters he faced before Tino Martinez doubled Perez home from first with a shot off the rightfield scoreboard. Julio Lugo followed with a single to the right-center gap that scored pinch runner Jonny Gomes from second with the game winning run. Gomes came into the game when Martinez had to leave after injuring his hamstring muscle rounding first base. Al Reyes relieved Zambrano to start the ninth and work a perfect inning to earn his 6th save of the season. W: Victor Zambrano (2-4, 5.47); L: Jorge Julio (1-4, 7.16); SV: Al Reyes (6, 5.19) Player of the Game: Victor Zambrano. 8 IP, 6 Hits, 3 Runs, 2 BB's, 8 K's, 115 PI. Game Notes: Rocco Baldelli sets a new single season Team Record for Stolen Bases with 31! Tino Martinez was injured while running the bases.