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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -- The struggling Tampa Bay Devil Rays
finally had some fun.
|  | | Seattle outfielder John Mabry made his Major League pitching debut on Sunday. |
Mike DiFelice hit a tiebreaking homer that triggered an 11-run
eighth inning -- the biggest burst in Tampa Bay history -- and led
the Devil Rays over the Seattle Mariners 14-4 on Sunday.
"It just feels good to get win and have a big inning the way we
did in a late game situation ... it was very much needed," said
DiFelice, who received a shaving cream pie in the face from
teammate Rick White during a postgame interview.
"You hope this will relax everybody."
Jose Guillen hit a pair of two-run doubles in the eighth and
Ozzie Guillen added a two-run double as Tampa Bay broke a four-game
losing streak.
The Devil Rays, with a major league-worst record of 16-32, won
for just the third time in 14 games.
"We've been losing so many games, and everybody's been coming
with their heads down," said Jose Guillen, who went 3-for-5 and
raised his batting average 45 points to .256. "I hope this is a
wake-up call for us, a wake-up call for me too."
The Devil Rays got seven hits off Jose Mesa (2-4) -- who was
ejected later in the inning for throwing close to DiFelice -- and
utilityman John Mabry, who pitched for the first time in the
majors.
Mesa declined comment after the game.
"We've got to figure out what's wrong with," Mariners manager
Lou Piniella said. "His arm just deadens up on him."
Tampa Bay surpassed the team record for runs in an inning, set
during an eight run fourth against Seattle on May 30, 1999. The
Devil Rays also set a club mark for hits in an inning with 10.
Other new Tampa Bay records included 20 hits in a game and
sending 16 men to plate during the decisive eighth inning.
"It was amazing," said Devil Rays reliever Jim Mecir (3-1),
who worked three perfect innings. "After a while I was getting
tired getting up and down congratulating everybody for scoring.
It's just a tremendous boost. Hopefully we can keep it going."
Mecir entered in the sixth and retired all nine hitters he
faced.
Mesa (2-4) took over to start the eighth and DiFelice homered on
the second pitch for a 4-3 lead. It was DiFelice's first home run
since last Aug. 22.
DiFelice batted against Mesa later in the inning and walked on
four pitches. Ball four was an inside fastball, and Mesa was
ejected by plate umpire Dana DeMuth. Mesa allowed nine runs and
seven hits while getting only one out.
"I don't know ... he didn't hit," DiFelice said. "It was
little inside. Maybe he just didn't want to pitch to me."
Mabry then became the second Mariners position player to pitch
in a game, joining infielder Manny Castillo, who did it on June 26,
1983. Mabry got two outs, giving up two runs and three hits.
"The main concern is you don't want him to go out there and get
hurt," Seattle shortstop Alex Rodriguez said. "That's why I
basically reminded him, `have some fun and don't get hurt."
Steve Cox, who hit his first major league homer Friday, had a
solo shot in the second for the Devil Rays.
Mike Cameron hit a solo homer and RBI single for Seattle. Edgar
Martinez hit his 15th home run, and 11th in 25 games for the
Mariners.
Albie Lopez, making his first start since June 4, 1997, allowed
two earned runs and four hits over five innings. It was the just
the 28th time in 48 games the Tampa Bay starter has pitched five
innings.
Randy Winn, recalled earlier in the day from Triple-A Durham,
hit an RBI single in the second for the Devil Rays. Felix Martinez
scored on an errant pickoff attempt by catcher Tom Lampkin in the
fourth, making it 3-1.
The Mariners tied it at 3 in the fifth when Cameron had a
run-scoring single and later scored on a wild pitch.
Seattle starter Gil Meche went five innings, allowing three runs
and nine hits.<
Game
notes
DiFelice turned 31 on Sunday. ... In what is thought to be
a major league first, three Guillen's played in the game. Jose and
Ozzie for Tampa Bay and Seattle's Carlos. ... Rickey Henderson
stole second base in the fifth, his first stolen base with the
Mariners. ... Martinez has hit safely in 24 of his past 25 games.
... Lopez had made 151 consecutive relief appearances since his
last start.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Seattle Clubhouse
Tampa Bay Clubhouse
RECAPS
Toronto 12
Detroit 7
Tampa Bay 14
Seattle 4
Oakland 0
Baltimore 0
Cleveland 12
Chi. White Sox 3
Anaheim 8
Kansas City 4
Minnesota 4
Texas 3
Boston 2
NY Yankees 0
Florida 3
Cincinnati 1
NY Mets 6
St. Louis 2
Colorado 11
Pittsburgh 2
Houston 4
Atlanta 3
San Diego 4
Montreal 3
Chicago Cubs 4
San Francisco 1
Philadelphia 4
Los Angeles 2
Milwaukee 4
Arizona 3
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