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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -- Not even a sore shoulder could slow
down Greg Vaughn.
Vaughn and Jose Guillen hit two-run homers in the third inning
Sunday, and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays went on to beat the Baltimore
Orioles 7-4.
Both homers off Mike Mussina were preceded by walks. Vaughn
homered in all three games of the series.
"By no means are we satisfied," Vaughn said. "We've got to
keep going. We've got a lot of baseball to play, and we've got to
continue to play better."
It was the sixth time -- and first since last Sept. 7-9 -- that
Vaughn has homered in three consecutive games. The homer was also
his team-best 20th, marking the seventh time Vaughn has reached 20.
"He comes ready to play every day," Tampa Bay manager Larry
Rothschild said. "There is no question of motivation with Greg
Vaughn."
Vaughn, who strained his right shoulder at Kansas City a week
ago, aggravated the injury making a throw. He is to be evaluated
Monday before the start of a four game series against the Minnesota
Twins.
"There's no question in my own mind I'm playing," Vaughn said.
"I don't know where I'll be, but I'm playing."
Baltimore closed to 5-4 on Chris Richard's two-run homer in the
fourth. Richard, who went 3-for-4, also drove in a run with a
second-inning grounder.
Mussina (7-11), who gave up seven runs and nine hits in 6 1/3
innings, lost for the fourth time in five starts and matched his
career high for losses in one season. He went 19-11 in 1996.
In his previous outing, Mussina pitched a one-hit shutout
against Minnesota.
"I think you could tell after the first two or three hitters he
didn't have his best stuff," Orioles manager Mike Hargrove said.
"It happens. He couldn't locate his pitches. He had trouble
getting his breaking ball over consistently."
Tampa Bay starter Ryan Rupe (4-4) allowed four runs and eight
hits in five innings.
"Rupe probably didn't pitch as well as he wanted to, but he
pitched effectively and their bullpen came in and was solid,"
Mussina said. "I just didn't pitch very well. That's the
difference in the game. You need your whole staff to come out and
bring a complete effort. That's why they won."
Cory Lidle, recalled by the Devil Rays from Triple-A Durham
before the game, followed Rupe with three scoreless innings. The
right-hander allowed a leadoff double to Richard in the sixth, but
escaped trouble when second baseman Miguel Cairo made a leaping
catch to take a single away from Brady Anderson.
"I didn't bring him up to give me a stomach cramp," Rothschild
joked. "Overall, he did a very good job."
Anderson left after seven innings with a sore foot. The problem
is not considered serious.
Roberto Hernandez got three outs for his 21st save in 27
chances. During the three game series, which included two
extra-innings games, the Devil Rays' bullpen allowed three runs in
21 1/3 innings.
Melvin Mora had a first-inning solo homer for the Orioles.
Vaughn's RBI double tied it in the bottom of the inning.
The homers by Mora and Richard were their first in the American
League.
Cairo, who went 3-for-4 with two steals, extended the Tampa Bay
lead to 6-4 with an RBI double in the seventh. Fred McGriff added a
sacrifice fly off B.J. Ryan later in the inning.
Game notes
Mussina had allowed just six homers in his previous 13
starts. ... Tampa Bay DH Jose Canseco struck out in the third
inning and has fanned 1,830 times in his career. ... Guillen has
nine hits in his past 17 at-bats. ... Orioles DH Albert Belle was
0-for-9 against Rupe before singling in the fifth inning. ...
Baltimore CF Luis Matos, the No. 9 hitter, was hit twice by
pitches.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Baltimore Clubhouse
Tampa Bay Clubhouse
RECAPS
Kansas City 3
Boston 1
Cleveland 5
Anaheim 2
Minnesota 7
Detroit 3
Seattle 11
NY Yankees 1
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Toronto 6
Tampa Bay 7
Baltimore 4
Chi. White Sox 13
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NY Mets 5
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Chicago Cubs 6
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