OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - Expansion Revision: 1998 Devil Rays and beyond

Moriarty9 · 12-30-2008, 03:10 AM

Devil Rays sting Twins in marathon
Tampa Bay tops Minnesota in seventeenth innings
September 1, 1998

MINNEAPOLIS - Its a good thing rosters across Major League Baseball expanded today because the Minnesota Twins and Tampa Bay Devil Rays needed a little flexibility as the two clubs fought in an exciting 17-inning game.

The Devil Rays eventually won the game, which lasted nearly 5 1/2 hours, by a final score of 8-6. Fifteen pitchers were used between the two teams as well as 31 position players.

Chad Ogea made his Devil Rays debut as the starting pitcher and was in line for a win after holding Minnesota to three runs on six hits and three walks over eight innings of work. Reliever Rich Garces was given the opportunity to close out the ballgame but was relieved after giving up back-to-back singles to Marty Cordova and Jose Valentin to open the inning. With two of the next three scheduled hitters being left-handed, Tampa Bay manager Christian O'Neal brought southpaw Joey Long into the game. Long walked pinch-hitter Todd Greene to load the bases and watched as Cordova scored on a wild pitch before walking John Valentin to reload the bases. Left-handed hitter Todd Walker hit into a double play, but the Twins benefitted as Jose Valentin scored from third base to tie the game at 5-5.

The Devil Rays regained the lead in the top of the 12th inning, when Ryan Radmanovich hit a RBI single off Gregg Olson, making it 6-5 Tampa Bay. With two of the three scheduled hitters in the last of the 12th being left-handed hitters, it was lefty Gabe White's turn to try and close the door. After striking out Bob Hamelin to lead off the inning, White surrendered a solo home run to catcher Mike Macfarlane, tying the game at 6-6.

Tampa Bay took the lead once again in the 17th inning, striking against veteran southpaw Jesse Orosco. With men on first and second and two outs, Jeff Frye knocked Orosco out of the game with a two-run double. Now working with a two-run lead, Danny Graves became the fourth Devil Rays pitcher of the night to come on in a save opportunity and retired the side in the last of the 17th inning with a double play and a groundout.

Kevin Millwood, making his first relief appearance of the season, earned the win with three innings of shutout ball, improving to 10-7. The save was the third of the year for Graves. Orosco falls to 3-5 with the loss.

Frye and Jose Hernandez had four hits each for the Devil Rays while Todd Walker and Javier Valentin has three hits apiece for Minnesota. Tampa Bay catcher Charles Johnson went 0-for-6 with three strikeouts and three men left on base.

12-30-2008, 03:10 AM	#53 (permalink)
Moriarty9 All Star Starter Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,855 Thanks: 9 Thanked 3x in 3 posts	Devil Rays sting Twins in marathon Tampa Bay tops Minnesota in seventeenth innings September 1, 1998 MINNEAPOLIS - Its a good thing rosters across Major League Baseball expanded today because the Minnesota Twins and Tampa Bay Devil Rays needed a little flexibility as the two clubs fought in an exciting 17-inning game. The Devil Rays eventually won the game, which lasted nearly 5 1/2 hours, by a final score of 8-6. Fifteen pitchers were used between the two teams as well as 31 position players. Chad Ogea made his Devil Rays debut as the starting pitcher and was in line for a win after holding Minnesota to three runs on six hits and three walks over eight innings of work. Reliever Rich Garces was given the opportunity to close out the ballgame but was relieved after giving up back-to-back singles to Marty Cordova and Jose Valentin to open the inning. With two of the next three scheduled hitters being left-handed, Tampa Bay manager Christian O'Neal brought southpaw Joey Long into the game. Long walked pinch-hitter Todd Greene to load the bases and watched as Cordova scored on a wild pitch before walking John Valentin to reload the bases. Left-handed hitter Todd Walker hit into a double play, but the Twins benefitted as Jose Valentin scored from third base to tie the game at 5-5. The Devil Rays regained the lead in the top of the 12th inning, when Ryan Radmanovich hit a RBI single off Gregg Olson, making it 6-5 Tampa Bay. With two of the three scheduled hitters in the last of the 12th being left-handed hitters, it was lefty Gabe White's turn to try and close the door. After striking out Bob Hamelin to lead off the inning, White surrendered a solo home run to catcher Mike Macfarlane, tying the game at 6-6. Tampa Bay took the lead once again in the 17th inning, striking against veteran southpaw Jesse Orosco. With men on first and second and two outs, Jeff Frye knocked Orosco out of the game with a two-run double. Now working with a two-run lead, Danny Graves became the fourth Devil Rays pitcher of the night to come on in a save opportunity and retired the side in the last of the 17th inning with a double play and a groundout. Kevin Millwood, making his first relief appearance of the season, earned the win with three innings of shutout ball, improving to 10-7. The save was the third of the year for Graves. Orosco falls to 3-5 with the loss. Frye and Jose Hernandez had four hits each for the Devil Rays while Todd Walker and Javier Valentin has three hits apiece for Minnesota. Tampa Bay catcher Charles Johnson went 0-for-6 with three strikeouts and three men left on base.