 |
| Friday, June 13 Devil Rays manager offers colorful incentive Associated Press |
||||||||||
|
The Tampa Bay manager said Friday that he will dye his hair any "legitimate hair color" the players want if the struggling Devil Rays put together three straight wins. "I told the players if they can win three games in a row at any time this year, I'll dye my hair any color they want," Piniella said. "How about that one? I told them no purple. It's got to be a legitimate hair color." One down, two to go. Tampa Bay started Friday mired in a seven-game losing streak but Victor Zambrano overcame control problems to allow one run over seven innings as the Devil Rays beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-1. The Devil Rays have won a season-high two straight games six times.
The longest losing streak in Piniella's 2,519 game managerial career is 10 while with the Cincinnati Reds in 1991.
Rolls hit .247 in 18 games with the Bulls. He appeared in 15 games with Tampa Bay earlier this season before fracturing the tip of his right thumb April 22. To make room for Rolls, the Devil Rays optioned third baseman Jared Sandberg to Durham. Sandberg, the nephew of former Chicago Cubs star Ryne Sandberg, is hitting .237 with two homers and 13 RBIs in 23 games.
"I feel fine," Martinez said Thursday before the Red Sox played St. Louis. "It's still a go for Monday." Martinez returned Wednesday from the disabled list for his first start in 27 days, a layoff caused by a strained back muscle. He looked sharp, with his fastball topping off at 94 mph. He said he should be ready for his next scheduled start, Monday at the Chicago White Sox. On Wednesday, the plan was for him to throw between 45-50 pitches. He threw 47 in three scoreless innings, allowing two hits. He struck out three and didn't walk a batter. He hopes to pitch at least five innings in his next start. "It looked like he hadn't missed a step," St. Louis manager Tony La Russa said after Wednesday's 13-1 loss. "He's a great pitcher, and he pitched great."
With left-hander Casey Fossum on the disabled list, the Red Sox needed a starter for Friday's game against Houston and gave that assignment to Rupe.
Bob Lemon and the Indians faced Whitey Ford and the Yankees on that night in 1954, and the Yankees won 3-2.
Larkin has been on the DL twice this season with a strained calf. He's hitting .259 in 18 games with one homer and four runs batted in.
Riedling got a cortisone shot for pain in his elbow Friday. He has started eight games and made 13 relief appearances, going 0-3 with a 6.58 ERA.
Wagner, a sophomore at the University of Houston, was the 14th overall pick in the June 3 draft. He went 6-5 with a 1.93 ERA in 79.1 innings with 15 saves and a school-record 148 strikeouts.
Harvey, a high school player from Dunedin, Fla., was the sixth overall pick in the June 3 draft. He hit .463 with 10 extra-base hits and 14 RBI. "He has a lot of tools, a lot of ability, a lot of power," general manager Jim Hendry said. "He wanted to get started and play right away, which is good. We're happy to sign him this fast." The deal will become official if Harvey passes a physical. He missed Dunedin's first 17 games while recovering from a knee injury but returned to set a school record for career runs scored. |
| |||||||||
