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Rays Grow Familiar With Unfamiliar Territory: Winner's Circle

AP Photo

New York Yankees starting pitcher Ian Kennedy, right, reacts after giving up a two-run home run in the fourth inning to Tampa Bay Rays' Shawn Riggans, rounding the bases in the background

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By CARTER GADDIS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 16, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - The deeper the Tampa Bay Rays travel into this uncharted territory, the more self-assured they become.

Another victory, another milestone, another day at the top of the American League East standings. Sweep the AL West-leading Angels, follow it up by winning three of four against the mighty (if wounded) Yankees.

Head out on the road with the best record in the league.

The new business as usual?

Thursday's winning pitcher, Scott Kazmir, summed it up after the Rays dealt New York a tidy, 5-2 defeat.

"It feels like every time we go out there," Kazmir said, "you can just see it in everybody's eyes: We know we can win."

The victory put the Rays a full game ahead of the idle Red Sox and knocked the Yankees into last place. It gave Tampa Bay its best two-team homestand ever, 6-1, and a series victory for the sixth time in the last seven tries.

The Rays have been in first place alone for a team-record three consecutive days, and are assured at least another day at the top by virtue of their two-game lead on Boston in the loss column.

Rays manager Joe Maddon said he allowed his team "30 minutes" to celebrate. He also allows them 30 minutes to lament a loss.

Which means, win or lose, regardless of the team's place in the standings or number of games above .500, the idea now for the Rays is to live in the moment.

"I do believe that the day before is not going to impact in a negative way," Maddon said. "I also believe that if we do win today, they're not going to come out with any kind of complacent behavior. It's good on both sides. I like the attitude. I like the way we're thinking right now."

As he did in his last start Saturday against the Angels, Kazmir (2-0) allowed three hits in six shutout innings. And, as was the case against the Angels, Kazmir still didn't feel comfortable enough with his mechanics to unleash the mid-90s fastball that has been his trademark since he broke into the majors exactly 100 starts ago.

"It still feels like I'm fighting myself just a little bit," said Kazmir, who pitched in the 89-91 mph range. "Velocity's not where I want it right now, but it feels like it's something really small that I'll be able to work on and stay closed and have a little bit better success."

It was his third start since missing all of spring training and April with a strained left elbow. While the overpowering Kazmir of the second half of 2007 has yet to emerge, he has won his past two starts using guile and fastball location.

He said he actually thinks winning this way will help him down the road, when he hopes to regain the stuff that made him an All-Star in 2006.

Maddon fully expects it to happen.

"I just think when you gain some veteranship and you know that you can as a pitcher or as a position player, you can get things done by force of will sometimes, too," Maddon said. "He knows he can compete. He knows as he's rounding himself back into form he can still win. And I think that's what he's shown."

The Rays got on the board against Yankees starter Ian Kennedy (0-3) with Akinori Iwamura's leadoff home run in the first. Iwamura, who is batting .386 (22-for-57) over his past 12 games, also doubled and scored in the fifth.

Shawn Riggans' two-run home run off Kennedy in the fourth provided plenty of breathing room for Kazmir.

But the play that set the tone happened in the first inning, when Yankees leadoff batter Johnny Damon slapped a ground ball toward the left side of the infield and appeared to have hit a leadoff single.

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria dived to his left, gloved the ball, scrambled to his feet and threw out Damon by a full step.

"That ball goes through, obviously, the Yankees have an entirely different vibe about that game," Maddon said.

Damon was later robbed of extra bases when Rays center fielder B.J. Upton tracked a long fly ball for an out that ended the third.

It's the kind of defense that the Rays have begun to expect from themselves.

"It lets Kaz know he's got guys behind him," Longoria said. "Everybody's been playing tremendous defense, and that's been one of the keys to our success."

Reporter Carter Gaddis can be reached at (813) 259-8291 or igaddis@tampatrib.com.

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