RUPE 1-HITS A'S

ST. PETERSBURG -- Ryan Rupe carried a no-hitter into the 8th inning and Aubrey Huff left the yard and had 2 RBI at Tropicana Field as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays beat the Oakland Athletics by the count of 4 to 0.

Rupe(2-6) escaped virtually unscathed against the Oakland hitters.  He surrendered only 1 hit and 3 walks in 9 innings. The right-handed Rupe lost his chance for a no-hitter when Terrence Long hit an infield single. with one out in the 8th inning.  Tampa Bay managed only 5 hits on the night. 

Cory Lidle(5-4) was the losing pitcher.  With this win, Tampa Bay has a 25-65 record.  They have been 4-6 lately.  With the loss, the Oakland ballclub's record is 51-42.  They remain 7 games behind Anaheim.

Around the League: • The Yankees lead the American League Wild Card by 4 games over Chicago.  Seattle and Oakland trail at 4.5 games back. • Andy Ashby of the Padres is the best pitcher in the league at holding runners.  Only 42% of would-be base-stealers have stolen off Ashby (league best). • Miguel Batista of the Diamondbacks has allowed just 4 home runs in 96 innings pitched this year.  His 0.38 HR/9 innings mark is best in majors. • The incredible Boston Red Sox are 11-2 in July and hold an incredible 62-28 record so far this season.  They're on pace to win 112 games this year. • The Tampa Bay Devil Rays (25-65) own the Majors' worst record and are on pace to lose 117 games this season.

BOXSCORE: 2002 Oakland Athletics At 2002 Tampa Bay Devil Rays       7/15/2002

  Athletics          AB  R  H RBI AVG     Devil Rays         AB  R  H RBI AVG
  S.Hatteberg 1B      4  0  0  0 .274     R.Winn CF           4  0  1  1 .281 
  M.Ellis 2B          4  0  0  0 .289     B.Abernathy 2B      4  1  1  0 .238 
  M.Tejada SS         4  0  0  0 .245     S.Cox 1B            4  0  0  0 .253 
  E.Chavez 3B         3  0  0  0 .261     A.Huff DH           4  2  2  2 .331 
  D.Justice LF        2  0  0  0 .220     B.Grieve RF         3  0  0  0 .247 
  J.Dye RF            3  0  0  0 .264     T.Hall C            4  0  1  0 .216 
  J.Mabry DH          2  0  0  0 .279     J.Sandberg 3B       3  1  0  0 .194 
  T.Long CF           3  0  1  0 .237     C.Gomez SS          1  0  0  0 .214 
  G.Myers C           3  0  0  0 .204     J.Conti LF          3  0  0  0 .290 
                     -- -- -- ---                            -- -- -- ---     
         Totals      28  0  1  0                 Totals      30  4  5  3


Athletics....... 0 0 0  0 0 0  0 0 0  -  0  1  2
Devil Rays...... 0 0 0  1 1 0  0 2    -  4  5  0

Athletics (51-42)        IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR  PC    ERA  SCORESHEET
C.Lidle LOSS(5-4)         7       3   2   1   3   3   1 102   3.83  A1 C9
J.Mecir                   0 1/3   1   1   1   0   0   0   6   3.48  D1 D2
M.Venafro                 0 2/3   1   1   0   0   0   0  12   3.81  D3
Totals                    8       5   4   2   3   3   1

Devil Rays (25-65)       IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR  PC    ERA  SCORESHEET
R.Rupe WIN(2-6)           9       1   0   0   3   5   0 108   5.20  A1
Totals                    9       1   0   0   3   5   0

ATTENDANCE- 12,628 DATE- Monday, July 15th 2002 TIME- Night
UMPIRES- Derryl Cousins, Alfonzo Marquez, Scott Packard, Jeff Nelson
T- 2:34
LEFT ON BASE- Athletics: 4  Devil Rays: 5
DOUBLE PLAYS- Athletics: 1  Devil Rays: 0
ERRORS- M.Tejada, C.Lidle
TRIPLES- A.Huff(1st)
HOME RUNS- A.Huff(5th)
WALKS- E.Chavez, D.Justice, J.Mabry, B.Grieve, C.Gomez-2
STRIKE OUTS- M.Ellis-2, M.Tejada-2, J.Dye, S.Cox, B.Grieve, J.Sandberg
GIDP- R.Winn
PASSED BALLS- G.Myers

EXPOS LOSE 12TH STRAIGHT

MONTREAL -- The laughingstock Expos dropped their 12th straight last night, losing 7-2 to the Braves.  Atlanta added 5 extra runs in the 9th inning for laughs.

The last time the Expos' won was on June 28. 

Last 12 Games:

 6/29 MON  1  7  2  TOA  2 10  1 11   C.Politte (3-1)       J.Eischen (0-2)
 6/30 MON  2  8  1  TOA  4 10  1      F.Heredia (4-5)       T.Ohka (6-6)
 7/ 1 MON  0  6  1  ATN  1  4  0      T.Spooneybar (2-1)    J.Vazquez (3-10)
 7/ 2 MON  1  4  0  ATN  6 11  0      D.Moss (8-4)          B.Colon (0-1)
 7/ 3 MON  0  3  1  ATN  1  5  0      G.Maddux (8-4)        T.Armas Jr. (6-9)
 7/ 4 MON  4  9  0  PHN  6  9  0      V.Padilla (12-1)      M.Yoshii (2-6)
 7/ 5 MON  3 12  1  PHN  4  9  1 11   D.Plesac (1-0)        G.Lloyd (2-1)
 7/ 6 MON  2  5  0  PHN  3  8  0      D.Coggin (3-4)        J.Eischen (0-3)
 7/ 7 MON  4  8  2  PHN  5 10  0      T.Adams (7-4)         B.Colon (0-2)
 7/11 ATN  9  8  0  MON  8 12  2      K.Millwood (10-3)     T.Armas Jr. (6-10)
 7/12 ATN  6 14  1  MON  2  9  0      T.Spooneybar (3-1)    M.Herges (3-3)
 7/13 ATN  7  8  2  MON  2  5  2      T.Spooneybar (4-1)    B.Colon (0-3)

RED SOX HUMILIATE TIGERS

Tigers.......... 0 1 0  3 0 0  0 1 0  -  5  9  3
Red Sox......... 2 0 5  4 0 6  3 2    - 22 23  2
Win:Castillo(7-4) Loss:Redman(5-5)
Homeruns- R.Santiago-2(5th), T.Nixon(15th), N.Garciaparra(15th),
           M.Ramirez(14th), L.Merloni(2nd)

BOSTON -- Trot Nixon had 4 hits and 2 RBI as the Boston Red Sox smashed the overmatched slumping Detroit Tigers, 22 to 5.

Nixon had a good evening at the plate.  He tripled in the 1st inning, tripled in the 3rd inning, delivered a solo blast in the 4th inning and laced a one-base hit knocking in a run in the 7th inning.  Boston kept the
scorekeepers busy in the 3rd inning which saw them plate 5 runs on 5 hits and the 6th inning when they had 6 runs on 5 hits.  Boston simply wore out the Detroit pitching staff, scoring in 6 different innings. 

The victory went to Frank Castillo(7-4) who went 7 and 2/3 innings, allowing 5 runs. Mark Redman(5-5) was given the loss.  He was unable to control the Boston offense and allowed 7 hits and 3 walks in 2 and 2/3 innings. 

---

NEWSPAPER STYLE RECAP FOR 2002 Major Leagues                   Date: 7/6/2002

TEAM     WON LOST   BATTING AVERAGE     HOME RUNS           RUNS BATTED IN
2002 BOA  57  26    T.Helton  CON .373  M.Ordonez CHA   31  T.Helton  CON   84
2002 NYA  51  34    L.Walker  CON .368  B.Bonds   SFN   31  M.Ordonez CHA   81
2002 TOA  34  50    I.Suzuki  SEA .361  A.Rodrigu TEA   28  B.Bonds   SFN   81
2002 BAA  33  50    B.William NYA .361  R.Palmeir TEA   28  L.Walker  CON   78
2002 TBA  22  61    B.Bonds   SFN .359  OTHERS TIED W   27  M.Sweeney KCA   76

2002 CHA  48  38    WINS                SAVES               ERA
2002 MNA  48  39    C.Schilli ARN   15  K.Sasaki  SEA   27  D.Lowe    BOA 1.82
2002 CLA  40  44    J.Moyer   SEA   12  M.William PIN   26  T.Wakefie BOA 1.82
2002 KCA  33  50    V.Padilla PHN   12  A.Benitez NYN   25  V.Padilla PHN 2.02
2002 DEA  30  53    OTHERS TIED W   11  OTHERS TIED W   24  E.Dessens CIN 2.11
                                                            O.Perez   LAN 2.12
2002 ANA  53  31
2002 SEA  47  39    CUR HIT STREAK      STOLEN BASES        STRIKEOUTS
2002 OAA  47  39    I.Rodrigu TEA   19  D.Roberts LAN   38  C.Schilli ARN  172
2002 TEA  39  45    A.Beltre  LAN   17  E.Young   MLN   37  R.Johnson ARN  170
                    C.Beltran KCA   13  J.Pierre  CON   36  M.Clement CHN  137
2002 ATN  55  31    M.Sweeney KCA   12  L.Castill FLN   34  P.Martine BOA  132
2002 PHN  50  34    OTHERS TIED W   11  OTHERS TIED W   28  A.Burnett FLN  121
2002 NYN  43  42
2002 FLN  43  43
2002 MON  34  51

2002 SLN  42  41
2002 HON  42  42
2002 MLN  38  48
2002 CHN  37  47
2002 CIN  37  48
2002 PIN  36  49

2002 ARN  57  28
2002 LAN  51  35
2002 SFN  46  39
2002 CON  43  43
2002 SDN  35  51

YESTERDAY'S GAMES   TODAY'S SCHEDULE AND PROBABLE STARTERS
CLA  2  at  CHA  3  BAA-Ponson(6-9, 4.91) at TEA-Burba(4-8, 7.26)
DEA  5  at  BOA 22  CLA-Phillip(0-0, ----) at CHA-Buehrle(10-5, 3.79)
KCA  4  at  OAA  2  DEA-Maroth(1-4, 8.68) at BOA-Martine(8-4, 2.42)
MNA  5  at  SEA  2  KCA-May(4-3, 3.72) at OAA-Zito(8-6, 3.46)
BAA  3  at  TEA  2  MNA-Lohse(4-5, 3.95) at SEA-Moyer(12-3, 3.05)
TOA  4  at  NYA  2  TOA-Parris(0-2,10.97) at NYA-Pettitt(4-0, 3.12)
TBA  8  at  ANA  2  TBA-Sosa(0-2, 2.49) at ANA-Lackey(0-1, 5.91)
MON  3  at  PHN  4  CHN-Zambran(1-2, 2.84) at ATN-Glavine(11-6, 2.53)
CHN  4  at  ATN  2  HON-Cruz(1-1, 5.50) at PIN-Wells(8-3, 4.25)
HON  4  at  PIN  2  LAN-Nomo(7-5, 3.58) at SLN-William(4-6, 4.17)
LAN  1  at  SLN  5  MLN-Wright(3-4, 3.26) at CIN-Haynes(4-8, 4.97)
MLN  1  at  CIN  4  MON-Vazquez(3-10, 6.32) at PHN-Duckwor(4-6, 4.21)
NYN  4  at  FLN  2  NYN-Estes(5-4, 3.04) at FLN-Tejera(7-1, 3.13)
SDN  6  at  CON  7  SDN-Peavy(1-0, 7.24) at CON-Thomson(7-5, 6.86)
SFN  2  at  ARN  5  SFN-Rueter(8-2, 3.18) at ARN-Johnson(11-2, 3.25)

YESTERDAY'S BEST PERFORMANCES
BATTER         TM OPP AB  R  H RB BB Ks HR SB
B.Trammell    SDN CON  3  3  3  4  2  0  3  0
M.Bellhorn    CHN ATN  5  3  4  3  0  0  2  1
R.Santiago    DEA BOA  4  2  3  4  0  0  2  0
M.Ramirez     BOA DEA  5  4  3  2  1  0  1  0
C.Gomez       TBA ANA  2  2  1  3  1  0  1  0

PITCHER        TM OPP  INN  H  R ER BB Ks HR WLS
C.Schilling   ARN SFN  9.0  3  2  2  0 17  1 W 
M.Clement     CHN ATN  8.0  2  2  0  2  9  0 W 
E.Milton      MNA SEA  8.1  4  2  2  0  6  2 W 
J.Johnson     BAA TEA  6.0  5  2  0  0  5  0 W 
K.Escobar     TOA NYA  2.0  0  0  0  0  2  0   S

WHO'S HOT - BEST IN LAST 10 DAYS
BATTER         TM  AVG AB  H RB BB HR  PITCHER        TM IP  H ER BB Ks HR WLS
J.Edmonds     SLN .500 38 19 17  6  7  M.Venafro     OAA  5  0  0  0  4  0 200
M.Ramirez     BOA .400 40 16 20  8  6  T.Jones       CON  8  2  0  0  7  0 101
T.Helton      CON .564 39 22 17  3  5  V.Darensbourg FLN  6  1  0  2  7  0 100
J.Giambi      NYA .393 28 11  7  9  4  U.Urbina      BOA  5  2  0  1  7  0 003
M.Sweeney     KCA .425 40 17 18  2  5  A.Embree      BOA 12  3  2  1 13  1 200

WHO'S NOT - WORST IN LAST 10 DAYS
BATTER         TM  AVG AB  H RB BB HR  PITCHER        TM IP  H ER BB Ks HR WLS
F.Tatis       MON .083 36  3  0  0  0  M.Redman      DEA  8 16 11  5  3  1 020
B.Davis       SEA .160 25  4  0  0  0  C.Sabathia    CLA 11 13 13  9  8  4 020
A.Rowand      CHA .097 31  3  2  0  0  C.Carpenter   TOA  7 13  8  5  2  0 020
G.Lombard     DEA .056 36  2  0  4  0  H.Nomo        LAN  7 12  8  2  7  0 020
F.Lopez       TOA .083 24  2  1  1  0  R.Bell        TEA  6 14  8  3  5  3 010

SANTANA SOLVES A'S

MINNESOTA AT OAKLAND
Twins........... 0 0 0  3 0 1  0 0 0  -  4  9  0
Athletics....... 0 0 0  0 0 0  0 1 1  -  2  7  0
Win:Santana(3-3) Loss:Lidle(5-3) Save:Romero(1st)
Homeruns- C.Koskie(10th), M.Tejada(13th)

OAKLAND -- Minnesota Twins' starter Johan Santana clinched the series for the Twins today, beating Oakland 5-3 in a strong outing.  The dominant lefty allowed just one earned run on four hits in 7 1/3 innings pitched.  He struckout 8.

Minnesota achieved the early lead.  They scored 3 in the 3rd behind back-to-back doubles.  Oakland stater Cory Lidle pitched well enough, but he continued the trend of Oakland starters allowing big home runs at home.  Corey Koskie took him deep.

Unfortunately, Anaheim won their game against Baltimore, pushing their division lead back to 7 games.  Oakland will now host a four-game series against Kansas City (32-49).  They must perform well heading into the All-Star Break.

"I tip my hat to Santana," Maty McNeil said.  "We just didn't have a shot."



HATTE WINS IT WITH 2-OUT WALK-OFF

OAKLAND -- Scott Hatteberg hit a soaring rocket deep to the right-field bleachers to produce a huge walk-off win for the A's in tonight's 5-3 win over Minnesota.  Oakland had been down 3-2 going into the 9th against Eddie Guardado's dominating arm, but the White Elephants were able to solve him.  Miguel Tejada led off with a single.  After groundouts by Byrnes and Ellis, Adam Piatt pinch-hit and was walked.  And then, with runners at the corners and Hatteberg facing a lefty (his weaker side), he crushed an inside fastball off Eddie Guardado, winning yet another game for the A's.  Everyone inside Oakland Coliseum jumped to their fit as Hatteberg fist-pumped incessantly around the bases.

Hatteberg was MOBBED for the second time this week.  Minnesota's Eddie Guardado was in tears in a post-game interview.  It was his 4th blown save this season.

Twins starter Kyle Lohse bested Barry Zito as a starter but neither pitcher received the win.  Minnesota had runners in scoring position in every inning but two but left 9 runners stranded. 

Around the League: • Ichiro Suzuki went 4-for-5 with 6 RBI's in tonight's win against the Kansas City Royals.  A grand-slam accounted for 4 of those ribs.  Suzuki is hitting .414 in clutch situations this year. • Curt Schilling finally lost a game.  He is now 14-1.  He is 0-1 with a 8.38 ERA over his past two starts.  He had an 11-game winning streak going through much of April-May.   • The NL Central has yet to produce a winning team.  The entire division is being decided by 5.5 games.  St. Louis' Placido Polanco is just 4-for-his-last-33.  Jim Edmonds, however, has been hot for the Cardinals.  He's 18-for-his-last-31 with 4 home runs and 13 RBI's. • Tim Salmon of the Angels has already hit 33 doubles this season.  He is on pace to hit 68 this season, breaking Earl Webb's record of 67 set in 1931.  He is hitting .380 this year against righties. • Dave Roberts and Eric Young share the NL-lead for stolen bases at 36.  88% of Young's stolen bases attempts have been successful.

BOXSCORE: 2002 Minnesota Twins At 2002 Oakland Athletics             7/1/2002

  Twins              AB  R  H RBI AVG     Athletics          AB  R  H RBI AVG
  J.Jones LF          4  1  0  0 .322     S.Hatteberg 1B      4  1  1  3 .278 
  C.Guzman SS         5  0  1  0 .276     J.Mabry DH          3  0  0  0 .310 
  C.Koskie 3B         3  0  1  1 .270   B-O.Saenz PH          1  0  0  0 .324 
  M.Lecroy DH         4  0  1  0 .281     D.Justice LF        4  0  1  0 .215 
  T.Hunter CF         4  0  1  0 .315     E.Chavez 3B         3  1  1  1 .262 
  D.Mientkiewicz 1B   2  1  1  0 .251     J.Dye RF            3  0  0  0 .250 
  D.Mohr RF           4  0  0  0 .261     M.Tejada SS         4  1  2  0 .266 
  A.Pierzynski C      3  1  1  2 .281     M.Ellis 2B          4  1  1  0 .322 
  L.Rivas 2B          3  0  1  0 .313     T.Long CF           2  0  0  0 .229 
                                        A-E.Byrnes PR,CF      1  0  0  0 .281 
                                          R.Hernandez C       3  0  1  1 .261 
                                        C-A.Piatt PH          0  1  0  0 .267 
                     -- -- -- ---                            -- -- -- ---     
         Totals      32  3  7  3                 Totals      32  5  7  5

A-Pinch Ran For Long In 7th Inning
B-Pinch Hit For Mabry In 8th Inning
C-Pinch Hit For Hernandez In 9th Inning

Twins........... 0 0 0  0 3 0  0 0 0  -  3  7  0
Athletics....... 0 0 0  0 1 1  0 0 3  -  5  7  0

Twins (44-39)            IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR  PC    ERA  SCORESHEET
K.Lohse                   7       4   2   2   3   6   1 105   3.95  A1 D1
E.Guardado L(0-2) BS(4th) 1 2/3   3   3   3   1   2   1  43   4.25  D2
Totals                    8 2/3   7   5   5   4   8   2

Athletics (46-36)        IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR  PC    ERA  SCORESHEET
B.Zito                    6 2/3   6   3   3   5   4   1 105   3.46  A1 D2
J.Mecir                   1       1   0   0   1   2   0  25   2.98  D3 D7
M.Venafro WIN(4-2)        1 1/3   0   0   0   0   1   0  16   3.80  D8
Totals                    9       7   3   3   6   7   1

ATTENDANCE- 41,613 DATE- Monday, July 1st 2002 TIME- Night WEATHER- Average
UMPIRES- Rich Rieker, Paul Emmel, Gerry Davis, Chris Guccione
T- 3:02
LEFT ON BASE- Twins: 9  Athletics: 6
DOUBLE PLAYS- Twins: 1  Athletics: 2
DOUBLES- M.Lecroy(5th), D.Mientkiewicz(13th), R.Hernandez(14th)
TRIPLES- L.Rivas(3rd)
HOME RUNS- A.Pierzynski(6th), S.Hatteberg(16th), E.Chavez(20th)
STOLEN BASES- L.Rivas-2(5th), E.Chavez(1st)
WALKS- J.Jones, C.Koskie-2, D.Mientkiewicz-2, L.Rivas, E.Chavez, J.Dye, T.Long,
       A.Piatt
HIT BY PITCH- A.Pierzynski, S.Hatteberg
STRIKE OUTS- J.Jones-2, M.Lecroy-2, D.Mohr-2, L.Rivas, S.Hatteberg, O.Saenz,
             D.Justice, E.Chavez, J.Dye, M.Tejada, M.Ellis-2
GIDP- T.Hunter, D.Mohr, T.Long