Expansion Revision: 1998 Devil Rays and beyond

[Moriarty9]

Halladay hurls four-hit shutout
Escobar balk opens scoring for Devil Rays
September 27, 2001

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Roy Halladay and Kelvim Escobar were locked in a pitchers' duel until a balk rattled the Toronto Blue Jays starter and gave all the run support the Tampa Bay Devil Rays starter would need.

Halladay threw an impressive four-hit shutout to improve to 18-1 in just his second big league season, first with Tampa Bay.

"The kid is a stud out there," said Devil Rays manager Christian O'Neal. "He flat out pitches and has come up big a number of times, including tonight."

Escobar was pitching equally well until the sixth inning when the Devil Rays tagged him for four runs. Garret Anderson opened the inning with a double and, after a Paul Konerko strikeout, moved up to third on a single by Erubiel Durazo. Escobar then balked, advancing both runners and putting Tampa Bay ahead 1-0. After striking out Raul Mondesi, Escobar gave up a RBI double to rookie Aubrey Huff and then a two-run home run to Charles Johnson.

Mondesi would add a run with a solo shot off reliever J.C. Romero in the eighth and Huff scored from third on a wild pitch to Adam Kennedy later that inning.

The Boston Red Sox fell to the Baltimore Orioles, 6-3, tonight, putting the Devil Rays two games up on the Red Sox. Tampa Bay's magic number is now down to two, meaning a Devil Rays win and Red Sox loss tomorrow would clinch the division for Tampa Bay.

[Moriarty9]

Halladay hurls four-hit shutout
Escobar balk opens scoring for Devil Rays
September 28, 2001

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Kris Benson was on top of his game tonight as he picked up a complete game victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at Tropicana Field.

Benson gave up one run on seven hits and no walks, striking out four in nine innings.

Tampa Bay starter Randy Wolf gave up three runs on eight hits and one walk, striking out six in 6 2/3 innings. Ken Cloude, working out of the bullpen, have up three runs in just 1 2/3 innings for the Devil Rays.

[Moriarty9]

Devil Rays win division
Mulder shines in title-clinching game
September 29, 2001

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Devil Rays are heading to the playoffs for the second time in their four year history.

Tampa Bay defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 7-1 at Tropicana Field this afternoon, eliminating the Boston Red Sox from playoff contention.

"These guys deserve this opportunity," said Devil Rays manager Christian O'Neal. "Now we have to make the best of this chance and prove we belong."

Mark Mulder has long been said to have the potential to show he belongs as top of the line starting pitcher for someone, but has largely been far too inconsistent to actually prove it. This afternoon, however, Mulder was dominant, holding the Blue Jays to one run on five hits and two walks, striking out six in eight innings. Rookie reliever Ben Weber retired the side in order on 10 pitches in the ninth inning.

With the win, Mulder improves to 10-8 on the season.

Charles Johnson hit a solo home run in the third inning, his 15th of the season, while Raul Mondesi hit a two-run shot in the fourth for his 33rd homer of the year.

[Moriarty9]

Devil Rays 2001 statistics

2001 Record — 92-70 (.568), American League East champions
Team Offense — .268 average (7th in AL), 190 home runs (5th in AL), 803 runs scored (tied 7th in AL)
Team Pitching — 3.98 ERA (3rd in AL), 54 saves (tied 3rd in AL), 1,235 strikeouts (4th in AL)
Team Defense — .983 fielding percentage (tied 4th in AL), 36.8% caught stealing (best in baseball)

Pedro Martinez: 21-8, 3.16 ERA, 34 starts, 309 strikeouts, 0.99 WHIP
Roy Halladay: 18-1, 3.09 ERA, 32 games, 31 starts, 172 strikeouts, 1.21 WHIP
Kevin Millwood: 10-14, 1 save, 4.26 ERA, 31 games, 30 starts, 158 strikeouts, 1.31 WHIP
Livan Hernandez: 14-10, 3.47 ERA, 30 games, 22 starts, 118 strikeouts, 1.21 WHIP
Mark Mulder: 10-8, 5.20 ERA, 22 games, 21 starts, 77 strikeouts, 1.45 WHIP
Randy Wolf: 2-5, 2 saves, 3.94 ERA, 33 games, 11 starts, 100 strikeouts, 1.29 WHIP
David Cone: 2-5, 6.66 ERA, 12 games, 8 starts, 35 strikeouts, 1.56 WHIP
Bruce Chen: 2-3, 7.71 ERA, 14 games, 4 starts, 22 strikeouts, 1.75 WHIP
Ken Cloude: 1-2, 8.31 ERA, 5 games, 1 start, 16 strikeouts, 1.77 WHIP
Joe Fontenot: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 game, 3 strikeouts, 0.67 WHIP
Byung-Hyun Kim: 4-2, 16 saves, 2.03 ERA, 54 games, 86 strikeouts, 0.98 WHIP
Gabe White: 4-2, 1 save, 5.19 ERA, 53 games, 47 strikeouts, 1.38 WHIP
Paul Quantrill: 2-6, 29 saves, 3.83 ERA, 50 games, 30 strikeouts, 1.30 WHIP
Benj Sampson: 1-1, 2 saves, 2.88 ERA, 25 games, 30 strikeouts, 1.25 WHIP
Jack Cressend: 1-2, 3 saves, 4.01 ERA, 30 games, 21 strikeouts, 1.42 WHIP

Brad Ausmus: .213, 8 RBI, 8 R, 61 AB
Jason LaRue: .375, 1 RBI, 1 R, 8 AB
Charles Johnson: .247, 15 HR, 54 RBI, 60 R, 449 AB
Paul Konerko: .291, 18 HR, 71 RBI, 75 R, 560 AB
Erubiel Durazo: .266, 31 HR, 97 RBI, 89 R, 534 AB
Adam Kennedy: .273, 5 HR, 55 RBI, 44 R, 465 AB
Mark Grudzielanek: .252, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 15 R, 139 AB
Aubrey Huff: .325, 25 HR, 93 RBI, 86 R, 567 AB
Jimmy Rollins: .236, 8 3B, 8 HR, 56 RBI, 60 R, 37 SB, 516 AB
Lou Merloni: .600, 5 AB
Wilton Guerrero: .389, 1 RBI, 9 R, 18 AB
Rickey Henderson: .231, 7 RBI, 23 R, 12 SB, 104 AB
Garret Anderson: .243, 12 HR, 53 RBI, 44 R, 366 AB
Eric Byrnes: .182, 2 RBI, 4 R, 22 AB
Aaron Rowand: .308, 3 HR, 32 RBI, 18 R, 172 AB
Ryan Radmanovich: .207, 1 RBI, 8 R, 29 AB
Carlos Beltran: .288, 11 3B, 27 HR, 94 RBI, 115 R, 40 SB, 614 AB
Trot Nixon: .000, 3 AB
Raul Mondesi: .236, 33 HR, 81 RBI, 80 R, 11 SB, 556 AB

[Moriarty9]

2001 League Leaders

BATTING AVERAGE
AL — Will Clark, New York Yankees, .370 (2nd batting title)
NL — J.D. Drew, New York Mets & Lance Berkman, New York Mets, .338 (2nd batting title for Berkman)

HOME RUNS
AL — Mark McGwire, Oakland Athletics, 54 (3rd home run crown)
NL — Todd Helton, Colorado Rockies, 51 (2nd home run crown)

RBI
AL — Ellis Burks, Cleveland Indians, 143
NL — Lance Berkman, New York Mets, 136

HITS
AL — Will Clark, New York Yankees, 231
NL — Vladimir Guerrero, Montreal Expos, 210 (2nd time)

RUNS SCORED
AL — Will Clark, New York Yankees, 132
NL — Lance Berkman, New York Mets, 143 (2nd time)

STOLEN BASES
AL — Jason Tyner, Chicago White Sox, 88
NL — Luis Castillo, Florida Marlins, 81

ERA
AL — Jarrod Washburn, Chicago White Sox, 2.48
NL — Vicente Padilla, Montreal Expos, 2.00

WINS
AL — Pedro Martinez, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, 21
NL — Rick Reed, New York Mets & Jason Schmidt, New York Mets, 19

SAVES
AL — Scott Strickland, Boston Red Sox, 41
NL — Billy Koch, Los Angeles Dodgers, 47

INNINGS PITCHED
AL — Randy Johnson, Seattle Mariners, 257 0/3 (2nd time)
NL — Matt Morris, St. Louis Cardinals, 245 2/3

STRIKEOUTS
AL — Randy Johnson, Seattle Mariners, 353 (2nd time)
NL — Barry Zito, San Francisco Giants, 230


2001 Division Series

Tampa Bay Devil Rays (92-70) at Chicago White Sox (96-67)
Anaheim Angels (93-69) at Minnesota Twins (95-68)
Los Angeles Dodgers (85-77) at Milwaukee Brewers (88-74)
Chicago Cubs (85-78) at New York Mets (94-68)

[Moriarty9]

Pedro dominates in two-hitter
Estrada single breaks up no-hitter in seventh
October 4, 2001

CHICAGO — Pedro Martinez was brilliant in Game 1 of the American League Division Series, leading the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to a 7-0 win over the White Sox.

Martinez and Chicago starter Jarrod Washburn were locked in a pitchers' duel for most of the game. Tampa Bay got its first run of the game in the fifth inning courtesy of a Paul Konerko solo home run. The team added a run in the eighth inning with a Charles Johnson homer.

It wasn't until the seventh inning that the White Sox got into the hit column. Johnny Estrada led off the inning with a clean single to left field, breaking up Martinez's no-hitter. Cliff Floyd would later pick up a basehit as well.

Martinez went the distance for the Devil Rays, holding Chicago to two hits and four walks with five strikeouts in nine innings.

"He was damn good out there tonight," Tampa Bay manager Christian O'Neal said of Martinez. "There's nobody else I'd want pitching in a big game or a must-win game."

In the ninth inning, with Tampa Bay holding onto a 2-0 lead, the Devil Rays bats exploded for five runs off Washburn and reliever Kazuhiro Sasaki. Raul Mondesi hit a three-run home run off Sasaki, followed immediately by an Aubrey Huff solo shot. Konerko had a RBI single in the ninth inning.

Konerko and Johnson had two hits each while Mondesi had three RBI and Konerko has two RBI and two runs.

Roy Halladay (18-1, 3.09 ERA) will take the mound in Game 2 for the Devil Rays while the White Sox will counter with Glendon Rusch (9-9, 5.30 ERA).

"We have high hopes for tomorrow night," O'Neal said. "If Roy pitches the way he's capable of pitching we'll be in good shape."

[Moriarty9]

Estrada homer evens series
White Sox catcher hits walk-off shot
October 5, 2001

CHICAGO — Paul Quantrill stumbled in trying to close out what could have been a 4-3 Tampa Bay Devil Rays victory in Game 2 of the American League Division Series, but one swing of the bat from Johnny Estrada changed things dramatically.

Quantrill entered the bottom of the ninth inning with a one-run lead. Frank Thomas led off the inning with a 1-2 single. Brian Roberts, as a pinch-hitter, fell behind 1-2 to Quantrill but was hit by a pitch, putting two men on base with nobody out. After a Jason Tyner flyball out, Estrada hit a long flyball of his own, deep to rightfield for a 392-foot home run to win the game.

[bucketsndimes]

Read through all of this in the past few days. Looks quite good. Can't wait to see if you can take the Rays to their first World Series title, whether it be this year or in the future.

[Moriarty9]

Devil Rays take ALDS lead
Tampa Bay scores early, holds on for win
October 7, 2001

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Devil Rays took a 2-1 lead in the American League Division Series with a 7-5 win over the Chicago White Sox at Tropicana Field.

The White Sox jumped out to a quick lead by scoring two runs in the top of the first inning, as Johnny Estrada hit a RBI triple and Cliff Floyd followed with a RBI single.

That lead was short-lived, however, as Erubiel Durazo belted a three-run home run to give the Devil Rays a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the first inning.

Tampa Bay padded that lead in the second inning, due in part to a lack of control by Chicago starting pitcher Jason Bere. Aubrey Huff opened the inning with a four-pitch walk and later scored on an Adam Kennedy double. A few batters later, with the bases loaded and one out, Bere walked Garret Anderson, his third walk of the inning, to push Charles Johnson across the plate.

Ugueth Urbina was brought in after the walk, but Paul Konerko greeted him with a two-run single, making it a four-run inning and giving a 7-2 lead for the Devil Rays.

Bere's final pitching line was seven runs, all earned, on six hits and three walks with no strikeouts in just 1 1/3 innings of work.

Tampa Bay starter Livan Hernandez finished up his night after seven innings. In the seventh, the White Sox pulled closer to the Devil Rays with a Frank Thomas two-run home run and a RBI single by Estrada, making it 7-5.

Southpaw reliever Gabe White worked a scoreless eighth inning for Tampa Bay, followed by a scoreless ninth for the save.

[Moriarty9]

Tampa Bay heading to ALCS
Mulder shines as Devil Rays take 5-2 win
October 8, 2001

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Devil Rays will be fighting for the pennant after winning Game 4 of their Division Series matchup with the Chicago White Sox.

The Devil Rays picked up a 5-2 win over the White Sox at Tropicana Field tonight behind a strong performance by left-handed pitcher Mark Mulder.

"He stepped up in the clutch and pitched a really good ballgame," Tampa Bay manager Christian O'Neal said of Mulder.

Mulder gave up two runs on four hits and walked nobody in eight innings of work, striking out three Chicago batters. Kevin Millwood worked a 1-2-3 ninth inning, striking out two White Sox hitters.

Leadoff hitter Jimmy Rollins led the offense with two hits, including a solo home run in the fourth inning. Charles Johnson hit a two-run triple in the second inning.

"I'm very proud of these guys. They really deserve it," said O'Neal. "Now we just have to sit back and see who we're taking on in the next round and do our best to get to the World Series."

[Moriarty9]

Twins to take on Devil Rays
Angels pitching falters in ALDS Game 5
October 10, 2001

MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Twins will take on the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the American League Championship Series after an 11-4 victory at home tonight against the Anaheim Angels.

Anaheim starting pitcher Kris Wilson was charged with six runs, four earned, in 4 1/3 innings of work, while Shigetoshi Hasegawa gave up two runs in 2 2/3 innings, and Mike James struggled to three runs in one inning on the mound.

Joey Hamilton picked up the win for Minnesota, giving up four runs on eight hits and two walks, striking out six, in 7 1/3 innings. Rafael Soriano and Trever Miller combined for 1 2/3 perfect innings of relief to close out the ballgame.

[Moriarty9]

Pedro dominates Twins
D-Rays ace tosses shutout, K's 14
October 12, 2001

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Pedro Martinez shut down the Minnesota Twins in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series.

The Tampa Bay Devil Rays star hurler threw a complete game three-hit shutout, striking out 14 Minnesota batters.

"I've said it before: There is nobody out there today that I would rather have on the mound for a big game than Pedro Martinez," said Devil Rays manager Christian O'Neal. "He just continues to amaze."

Offensively, just about everyone in the Tampa Bay lineup contributed to their 5-0 win over the Twins. Garret Anderson went 3-for-3 with a double and a solo home run, coming just a triple short of hitting for the cycle. Erubiel Durazo hit a two-run home run off Minnesota pitcher Dave Burba, while Aubrey Huff and Adam Kennedy picked up a RBI each.

The Devil Rays and Twins will meet again tomorrow night for Game 2 of the ALCS at Tropicana Field. Tomo Ohka, 12-11 with a 4.49 ERA in 33 starts with the Chicago White Sox and Minnesota, will take the mound for the Twins. In his first postseason start, he was hit for five runs in just one-third of an inning. Halladay (18-1, 3.09 ERA in 32 games, 31 starts) gave up three runs in seven innings in his first start of the playoffs.

[Moriarty9]

Ohka, Stewart blank Devil Rays
Tampa Bay unable to get offense going
October 13, 2001

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Minnesota Twins have evened up the American League Championship Series with a tight 2-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at Tropicana Field.

Tomokazu Ohka threw eight shutout innings, holding Tampa Bay to seven hits and one walk, striking out two, before handing the ball to closer Scott Stewart for a 1-2-3 ninth inning.

Lee Stevens and Tony Clark picked up RBI singles each to lead the Minnesota offense.

The teams will travel to Minneapolis tomorrow and resume the series on Monday with Game 3. Livan Hernandez (14-10, 3.47 ERA) and Joey Hamilton (19-9, 3.81 ERA) will square off.

[Moriarty9]

Twins take lead in ALCS
Hamilton shuts down Devil Rays lineup
October 15, 2001

MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Twins have taken a 2-1 lead in the American League Championship Series after Joey Hamilton shut down the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in a 6-1 win.

Hamilton threw 96 pitches over eight innings, holding the Devil Rays to one unearned run on four hits and three walks to lead the Twins to a Game 3 victory at the Metrodome.

"He kept us off-balance and we couldn't capitalize on any opportunities," said Tampa Bay leftfielder Garret Anderson, who went 0-for-4 with four men left on base.

Devil Rays starter Livan Hernandez gave up six runs, five earned, on nine hits and three walks in four innings. Randy Wolf worked the final four innings of the ballgame, allowing no hits and one walk.

Tampa Bay will send Mark Mulder to the mound in hopes of evening the series in Game 4. Mulder went 10-8 with a 5.20 ERA this season, but pitched a strong game in the ALDS, giving up two runs in eight innings against the Chicago White Sox.

Veteran right-hander Bob Tewksbury will counter for Minnesota. The 40-year-old went 10-9 with a 4.44 ERA this year, and also gave up two runs in eight innings in his lone ALDS start this year.

[Moriarty9]

Devil Rays win ties ALCS
Mulder strong as Beltran knocks in three
October 16, 2001

MINNEAPOLIS — Mark Mulder has long been considered as a guy with great potential, but has been inconsistent at best in the big leagues. So far this October, however, that potential has been realized.

Mulder came up with a big win for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays tonight, winning Game 4 of the American League Championship Series to tie the best-of-seven series at two games apiece.

"The kid pitched a hell of a game," said Devil Rays manager Christian O'Neal of his starting pitcher. "That's two playoff starts that he's really excelled in, and I couldn't be happier with what he's done."

Mulder held the Minnesota Twins to two runs on seven hits and two walks in eight innings, striking out three. Tampa Bay closer Paul Quantrill closed out the game with a scoreless ninth, but not without letting the tying run come to the plate in the 5-2 win.

Centerfielder Carlos Beltran went 1-for-2 with a solo home run and two sacrifice flies, picking up three RBI in the game. The home run and RBIs are his first of the post-season. He is now hitting .069 in the playoffs.

The Devil Rays send their ace to the mound in Game 5 in the person of Pedro Martinez, with Dave Burba hitting the slab for Minnesota. Martinez, 21-8 with a 3.16 ERA this year, has thrown 18 shutout innings in the playoffs, giving up five hits in that time while striking out 19 batters. Burba, 16-10 with a 4.24 ERA this season, is 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA in two playoff starts.

[Moriarty9]

Rays head to Bay with lead
Martinez leads team to Game 5 win ALCS
October 17, 2001

MINNEAPOLIS — The Tampa Bay Devil Rays will return home for Game 6 of the American League Championship Series with a 3-2 lead after picking up a 3-2 win at the Metrodome tonight.

Pedro Martinez earned the win with two runs on four hits and two walks in 8 1/3 innings. Southpaw reliever Gabe White retired the final two outs to close out the ballgame.

Carlos Beltran appears to be heating up as the centerfielder hit a solo home run in the first inning, his second homer of the post-season and in as many days.

The ALCS will resume Friday night at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida with a rematch of Game 2 as Tomokazy Ohka and Roy Halladay face off. With a win, the Devil Rays will advance to their first World Series. Minnesota needs to win to force a decisive seventh game.

[Moriarty9]

Minnesota forces Game 7
Ohka bests Halladay in ALCS again
October 19, 2001

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — After losing Game 5 by a 3-2 score, the Minnesota Twins picked up a 3-2 victory in Game 6, forcing Game 7 of the American League Championship Series.

Twins starter Tomokazu Ohka held the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to two runs in 7 1/3 innings of work with four relievers keeping the Devil Rays working the final 1 2/3 innings. Tampa Bay's Roy Halladay fell to 0-2 in the playoffs with a 2.45 ERA after giving up three runs, two earned, in seven innings of work.

Charles Johnson homered for the Devil Rays while Juan Pierre had three hits for Minnesota.

[Moriarty9]

Twins heading to World Series
Beltran belts two Game 7 homers in losing effort
October 20, 2001

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Minnesota Twins will be taking on the New York Mets in the World Series after a 6-3 win in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series.

Joey Hamilton and five relievers worked together to clinch the pennant.

"We're going to the World Series, baby!" said Minnesota designated hitter David Segui.

Carlos Beltran hit two solo home runs in the game. Tony Clark hit a two-run home run off Mark Mulder in the fourth inning.

Mulder, who was pushed up to start Game 7, gave up five runs in 5 1/3 innings with Kevin Millwood working the final 3 2/3 innings.

[Moriarty9]

2001 World Series
Minnesota Twins v. New York Mets

GAME 1 — Twins defeat Mets 3-2
GAME 2 — Mets defeat Twins 6-2 (Mets catcher Todd Hundley tears ligament)
GAME 3 — Twins defeat Mets 6-0 (Tomo Ohka throws complete game two-hit shutout)
GAME 4 — Mets defeat Twins 3-2
GAME 5 — Twins defeat Mets 3-2
GAME 6 — Mets defeat Twins 5-4
GAME 7 — Mets defeat Twins 15-7 (Mets catcher Josh Paul hits for the cycle)

Mets win World Series in seven games.

[Moriarty9]

Henderson hangs 'em up
Veteran outfielder retires at age 42
November 1, 2001

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — After collecting 2,815 hits, stealing 1,307 bases, and scoring 2,815 runs, Rickey Henderson has decided to retire.

Henderson, who turns 43 next month, spent 23 years in the big leagues with the Oakland Athletics (1979-84, 1989-93, 1994-95), New York Yankees (1985-89), Toronto Blue Jays (1993), San Diego Padres (1996-97), and Tampa Bay Devil Rays (1999-2001).

A 10-time All Star and 1990 American League Most Valuable Player, Henderson, the speedster has a legendary career.

In 9,989 career at bats, Henderson hit .282 with 2,815 hits, including 67 triples and 272 home runs. He scored 2,087 runs in his career and knocked in 1,041 runs in 2,891 games in the big leagues.

Henderson hit .232 with seven RBI, 23 runs, and 12 stolen bases in 104 at bats with Tampa Bay this season. He hit .272 with eight home runs and 49 runs scored in 265 at bats last year with the Devil Rays.