|
Yankees get fatter on Rays
By MARC TOPKIN © St. Petersburg Times, published September 27, 1998 But that's probably not going to happen for a while. And all the Rays can do for now is be the guests -- and rather welcome ones -- at the Yankees' party. The mighty New Yorkers continued their playoff tuneup with a third straight victory over the Devil Rays on Saturday, winning 3-1 as David Cone returned to the 20-win column after a record 10-year absence. The Yankees are putting the finishing touches on a historic season, extending their AL record to 113 victories, and the Rays have been a big part of it. They've lost 10 of the 11 games, including all five at Yankee Stadium. "We've got a lot of improving to do. That's basically the bottom line," Rays manager Larry Rothschild said. "You don't want to struggle against anybody. It doesn't matter if they're the best ever or not. You give them their due and everything else, but 1-10 is 1-10, and that's all there is to it." The Rays fell to 63-98 and will finish with the worst record in the American League. They also will finish with a worse record than expansion counterpart Arizona, which is 65-96. "It's disappointing," closer Roberto Hernandez said. "We have the talent to be a lot better than finishing last." There wasn't much of a gap in the score Saturday, but there was a clear difference between the teams. Cone, who last won 20 in 1988 with the Mets, was masterful while the Yankees batters chipped at Terrell Wade for what runs they needed. Two came on homers by red-hot rookie Shane Spencer and Tampa's Tino Martinez, and the third when Derek Jeter doubled in Joe Giradi. The Rays had two chances to make a game of it and were foiled both times. Down 2-0 to Cone in the fifth, Rich Butler was on third and Miguel Cairo on first with one out when John Flaherty bounced to second. Butler started for home and then inexplicably stopped, and Chuck Knoblauch threw to the plate to catch Butler in a rally-killing rundown. "There's no reason to stop there. It's a bad mental error," Rothschild said. Butler said: "I just froze, it's as simple as that." The Rays loaded the bases with two outs against Yankees closer Mariano Rivera in the ninth and got one run when Mike Kelly walked. But Quinton McCracken was called out in a curiously close play at first to end the game. Cone, who scared the boisterous stadium crowd of 41,150 when he was struck in the ribs by Butler's third-inning bouncer, threw seven impressive innings to cap a season that started in uncertainty because of winter shoulder surgery. "We didn't think we'd have him until the end of May or June and for him to win 20 games is remarkable," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. The whole Yankees season has been remarkable, and it has been hard for the Rays not to notice. "I don't know if they beat up on anybody as bad as us," reliever Jim Mecir said, "but you've got to believe with 113 wins they beat up on some other teams out there too."
Business |
Citrus |
Commentary |
Entertainment
|
Home
EW YORK -- Someday, the Devil Rays hope to be where the Yankees are. An AL East title wrapped up, a post-season rotation in order and the luxury of using the final days of the season to work out the kinks.
