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High Pitch Count Doesn't Faze Kaz

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By MARC LANCASTER The Tampa Tribune

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 24, 2008

CHICAGO - It appeared to be here-we-go-again time for LHP Scott Kazmir after two innings Saturday.

The Rays' starter needed 47 pitches to slog through the opening frames even though he faced only eight batters and didn't allow a hit, and it seemed he might be in for another truncated outing. But he insists he didn't let those potentially dire straits get into his head as has been the case in similar situations in the past.

"I knew there were a lot of pitches, but I told myself I wasn't going to think about it and I didn't," Kazmir said. "I just went out there and I was like, 'You know what, if I have 10-, 11-, 12-pitch innings the next couple, I'll be sitting nice,' and that's what ended up happening."

Kazmir managed to squeeze six innings - and a quality start - out of the appearance. He didn't become the latest member of the Rays' 10-win club, as his team's offense came in the later innings, but he was excited about the way he pitched.

"I was throwing back-door sliders, the change-up was feeling good - throwing a lot of off-speed for strikes," he said. "I felt good about everything."

That includes the two pitches Jermaine Dye hit over the left-field fence in consecutive at-bats. The first one, in the fourth inning, was a low change-up the veteran slugger managed to stay with and drive out for the first hit off Kazmir in the game. The next one, in the sixth, was a fastball in off the plate that Dye turned on and yanked over the wall.

"I'll tell you what, both those pitches that he hit out, I really, really liked those pitches," Kazmir said. "I thought they were, for the most part, where I wanted."

Though the Rays trailed when Kazmir turned the ball over to the bullpen after six innings and 108 pitches, his work against a potent offense kept Tampa Bay in a position to rally.

"He competes well, and he did it again today," Manager Joe Maddon said.

TOP DOG: Saturday's victory was Maddon's 206th as Rays manager, moving him past Larry Rothschild for the most wins in team history. Rothschild needed 497 games to win 205, while Maddon recorded No. 206 in his 452nd game at the helm. He did not pop champagne to celebrate the achievement.

"It's nice," Maddon said when informed of the milestone, adding dryly: "It's a very proud moment for the Maddon family."

STAR TURN: When Fox wanted someone to put a creative spin on the Rays' starting lineup for Saturday's broadcast, the team's communications staff suggested C Shawn Riggans - never at a loss for words - might be a nice choice.

Riggans was proud to need only two takes to get through a lineup peppered with shots at his teammates; he messed up on fifth-place hitter Willy Aybar the first time. Other than that, he was pleased with his effort.

"It's the start of my TV career," he said.

TAKING NOTES: RHP Andy Sonnanstine will make his third start of the season against the White Sox today, but he'll be paying a bit more attention just in case he sees Chicago again later this year.

"Knowing that there's a possibility of us facing this team in the playoffs makes you take another look at the lineup, and they have a good lineup," said Sonnanstine. "I've never faced Ken Griffey Jr. before, and I'm kind of excited about that. I'm really going to be watching and taking an extra look, more than normal, just in case we do face off against them in the playoffs."

BRONZE STAGE: Durham RHP Jeremy Cummings made two Olympic appearances for the U.S. team that won a bronze medal Saturday. Cummings allowed three hits and one run - on a solo homer - while striking out two batters in five innings of relief work.

Marc Lancaster

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