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Thursday, Apr. 13 12:15pm ET
Vaughn's single ends Devil Rays' skid | |||||
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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -- Greg Vaughn provided the perfect ending for an awful homestand for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Outscored 57-20 during five straight embarrassing losses at Tropicana Field, the Devil Rays came from behind to beat the Chicago White Sox 6-5 Thursday with Vaughn delivering the game-winning hit with two outs in the bottom of the 12th. The Tampa Bay bullpen did its part too, limiting the White Sox to no runs and three hits over the last seven innings. Jim Mecir (2-0), the fifth Devil Rays pitcher, got the win. The struggling home team even got some help from second base umpire Bill Miller, who made a costly call against Chicago in the top of the 12th. "We got a couple of breaks. That's what you need," said Vaughn, who lined a single to left off Tanyon Sturtze (0-1) to drive in Kevin Stocker from second base with the winning run. "We finally got a little luck on our side." White Sox manager Jerry Manuel wasn't around for the finish. He was ejected in the top of the 12th after Miller called pinch-runner Chris Singleton out at second on a force play, even though second baseman Tony Graffanino dropped a throw from Stocker. Replays showed Graffanino tried to catch the ball with his bare throwing hand and never had control. Manuel argued the call and was tossed. The Devil Rays got out of the inning when Magglio Ordonez, who reached base on the force play, was caught stealing. "It wasn't the smartest play, but we got lucky," Graffanino said. "I guess he was looking at the bag to see if he was going to be out or not. He didn't see that I dropped it." Manuel said Miller told him he thought the second baseman was trying to transfer the ball from his glove to his throwing hand. "It blows my mind at this level that call could be made," White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko said. "It's ridiculous. Period." But the White Sox had to take some of the responsibility for the loss, too, after taking a 5-4 lead into the ninth. But closer Bob Howry couldn't finish off the Devil Rays, who loaded the bases with one out on two singles, a sacrifice bunt and an intentional walk to pinch hitter Fred McGriff. Gerald Williams grounded into a force play at second, driving in a run to send the game into extra innings. Ordonez hit a solo homer, his second, off Tampa Bay starter Steve Trachsel in the third. Frank Thomas extended his season-opening hitting streak to 10 games with a RBI single that gave Chicago its 5-4 lead in the fifth. Jose Valentin had a RBI double and Ray Durham drove in a run with a second-inning sacrifice fly for Chicago, which also scored a run when Trachsel hit Josh Paul with a pitch with the bases-loaded in the second. The Devil Rays, who fired pitching coach Rick Williams on Wednesday, got another poor performance from a starting pitcher. Trachsel fell behind 2-0 in the second, then couldn't hold the lead after Tampa Bay responded with four runs in the bottom half of the inning. Since getting at least six innings from their starting pitcher in their first four games, the Devil Rays have gone six straight outings without a starter lasting beyond five innings. Trachsel pitched seven scoreless innings in a 7-0 victory on opening day, but has surrendered 11 runs on 14 hits in 8 2/3 innings since then. The right-hander allowed five runs on five hits, walked two and struck out in four innings. He also hit two batters, including Paul with the bases loaded in the second. "Our pitchers are going to be OK," Vaughn said. "We win together, we lose together. We're going to get through this." The Devil Rays scored four times in the second against White Sox starter Cal Eldred, who allowed four runs and six hits in six innings. Dave Martinez had a two-run triple and Mike DiFelice and Ozzie Guillen each had RBI singles. Game notesThe Devil Rays acquired RHP Dwight Gooden from the Houston Astros for cash. He'll join the team Saturday and start that day's game at Detroit ... Valentin left the game with tightness in his right hamstring ... The season-opening streak for Thomas, who's hitting .476, is the second-longest of his career. He safely in Chicago's first 15 games in 1996. | ALSO SEE Baseball Scoreboard Chi. White Sox Clubhouse Tampa Bay Clubhouse RECAPS Tampa Bay 6 Chi. White Sox 5
Los Angeles 11
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