07/31/07 7:00 PM ET
Notes: Crawford returns to lineup
After big night on Monday, left fielder back in No. 2 spot
By Dawn Klemish / MLB.com

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The left fielder has been used solely in pinch-hit and pinch-run situations since he complained Saturday of a sore right wrist he suffered during a diving catch Friday night. He gave the all-clear on Tuesday, though, and he was back in his normal spot in the two-hole.
"Carl's fine," Rays manager Joe Maddon said with a grin. "He looked fine at the end of last night."
Crawford made a big splash Monday night when he entered the game as a pinch-runner in the ninth inning, stole second base and scored the game-tying run. He then hit the game-winning walk-off home run to left field in the bottom of the 11th.
Given the persistent pain in Crawford's wrist, Maddon maybe was as surprised as anyone his All-Star swung with such force.
"I said, 'Listen, whatever you feel like you can do, go ahead and do it,'" Maddon said. "'If you need to bunt, if you need to take pitches,' and then boom.
"I'm thinking he could've hit a line drive somewhere, but I haven't seen him hit a ball there yet, in batting practice or a game, so that was pretty impressive."
Scared, but safe: Carlos Pena was late for pregame warmups and stretching after a frightening accident at his home in Orlando. Pena, 28, was in another room when he heard a crash. His 18-month-old daughter had slipped on water and fallen backward, knocking the back of her head on the floor.
His daughter vomited shortly afterward, which led Pena to believe she'd suffered a concussion. Once Pena and his wife, Pamela, were assured this wasn't the case and his daughter was fine, the Rays' designated hitter headed to the ballpark.
"I heard a loud 'bam,' and I was scared," Pena said. "But she's OK. It didn't cut her head open or anything."
All's quiet ... for now: Maddon said even though the club didn't make any trade deadline moves, there's something brewing on the pitching front, and something could be done as soon as Tuesday night.
The Rays have carried 13 pitchers for some time now, and since they've acquired Dan Wheeler and Grant Balfour, Tampa Bay can look to shore up a bullpen that's been ailing them for so long and trim a little from the edges as well.
"We're looking into it, yes," Maddon said before Tuesday's game. "[Vice president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman] is trying to do a whole bunch of different things right now. ... We'll firm things up as the week rolls on."
Here's the question: Including Monday, how many walk-off homers has Crawford hit in his career?
Quick hits: Jesse Litsch, Toronto's starter on Tuesday, was the Rays' bat boy from 2000-02 while attending nearby Dixie Hollins High School. The 22-year-old is the fourth Tampa Bay native to pitch at Tropicana Field. ... Josh Wilson will be back in the lineup at shortstop on Wednesday. ... Counting Monday's win, the Rays have seven walk-off victories this season, just one shy of the Major League-leading Twins. ... On Thursday, the Rays will celebrate the opening of their new office, located in downtown Tampa. It'll house a team merchandise and ticket store, promotional material for sports events in the Tampa Bay area and full mockups of Tropicana Field suites and other premium seating options.
Down on the farm: Right-hander Jeff Niemann was taken out after facing a single hitter due to shoulder fatigue at Triple-A Durham on Monday. Early reports were positive, but the Bulls will be cautious. ... Double-A righty Dale Thayer moved to 9-0 after two perfect innings for Montgomery in a 10-inning, 9-3 win over the Barons. Third baseman Evan Longoria hit the first grand slam of his career in the 10th inning.
And the answer is: Crawford has three walk-off home runs, the most in Rays history. In fact, he and John Flaherty are the only Rays to accomplish the feat more than once. In addition, Crawford's game-ender on Monday was the only one in Rays history from a player who'd entered the game as a pinch-runner.
Up next: The Rays return to Tropicana Field on Wednesday for the series finale against the Blue Jays. Tampa Bay will send righty Jason Hammel (1-1, 5.33 ERA) to the mound, and he'll face Toronto right-hander Josh Towers (5-7, 5.08 ERA). First pitch is set for 3:10 p.m. ET.
Dawn Klemish is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.












