Rupe Remains Unsolved Mystery

By Mike DiGiovanna

May 29, 2001 12 AM PT

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Roger Clemens, Mike Mussina, Brad Radke and Randy Johnson have had loads of success against the Angels, and with good reason: They’re veteran pitchers with great stuff and staff aces who have the ability to dominate every time they take the mound.

But Ryan Rupe? How this 26-year-old Tampa Bay right-hander has joined the fraternity of Angel killers is a mystery. Rupe’s fastball rarely tops 88 mph. He has a nice slider, but nothing nasty, and a very good straight changeup.

With that, Rupe has limited the Angels to two earned runs and 10 hits in 23 1/3 innings of three starts, including a 6 1/3-inning, three-hit, no-walk, five-strikeout gem Monday.

“All he throws is changeups, and he has a good one,” said Angel left fielder Garret Anderson, who struck out twice against Rupe. “He knows he can’t throw a fastball by me in the zone, so all he throws is changeups. Eventually, I’ll make an adjustment.”

In his fourth major league start May 23, 1999, Rupe pitched what is considered the best game in Devil Ray history, shutting out the Angels on one hit for nine innings before the Angels scored four runs in the 10th off then-closer Roberto Hernandez to win.

In his next start against the Angels, July 28, 1999, Rupe gave up one run and six hits in eight innings of a 4-1 victory.

“You don’t have to be overpowering to have success,” Anderson said. “If you hit your spots, you’re going to have success in any league, and that’s what he does.”

It seemed a miracle that Angel pitcher Scott Schoeneweis lasted seven innings Monday. The left-hander threw 66 pitches in the first three innings, walking four and hitting one batter, and struggled to find his rhythm before settling down in the fourth.

“I wasn’t all over the zone, throwing balls to the screen, I was close,” the sinker specialist said. “If a team is patient, they’re going to draw walks. I just can’t give in. I’ll walk as many as it takes to get them to swing at my pitches.”

Schoeneweis said his troubles had nothing to do with his last start, when he was bombed for 11 runs and 12 hits in four innings by Baltimore on Wednesday.

“I kind of had to forget my last outing, or I’d be pumping gas in a week or two,” Schoeneweis said. “I wish I had a do-over for that one. I just chucked it away.”

A breakout series it wasn’t for Tim Salmon, but the Angel outfielder had four hits, including two doubles, in 13 at-bats against Tampa Bay, raising his average from .196 to .205. And when you’re struggling like Salmon, that’s progress.

“I’ve had some good at-bats and made some adjustments,” Salmon said. “I’m trying to clear my head. I’m done over-analyzing, over-swinging. I’m done thinking about it. I’m just trying to see it and hit it, to beat the guy on the mound instead of beating myself up.”

ON DECK

Opponent--Minnesota Twins, three games.

Site--Edison Field.

Tonight--7.

TV--Fox Sports Net tonight, Channel 9 Thursday night.

Radio--KLAC (570), XPRS (1090).

Records--Angels 23-26, Twins 32-16.

2000 Record vs. Twins--7-3.

TONIGHT

ANGELS’

RAMON ORTIZ

(3-4, 4.58 ERA)

vs.

TWINS’

ERIC MILTON

(5-3, 3.62 ERA)

Update--Baseball’s surprise team doesn’t seem like such a surprise anymore. Most figured the Twins would tail off after their hot start, but it’s almost June, and they have baseball’s second-best record. Pitching has been the key--Minnesota’s 3.89 team earned-run average is the fourth lowest in the league, and they’ve issued only 128 walks, fewest in the major leagues. The Twins are batting only .267 as a team. The Angels won’t have to face Radke, the Minnesota ace who has a 10-4 record and 1.69 ERA against the Angels, but Milton, the Twin left-hander, pitched a no-hitter against the Angels in 1999.

Wednesday, 7 p.m.--Pat Rapp (1-4, 5.28) vs. Joe Mays (6-3, 2.97).

Thursday, 7 p.m.--Jarrod Washburn (3-4, 4.12) vs. J.C. Romero (1-1, 4.93).

Tickets--(714) 663-9000.