Jarrod Washburn

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The wind wasn't blowing out at Tropicana Field yesterday, though with motor-mouthed basketball analyst Dick Vitale sitting beside the visitors' dugout, the air flow could shift inside a dome. Those were legitimate home runs being hit off Orioles starter Rick Helling, every bit as real as the possibility that he won't stay in the team's rotation through the end of the month. Three more batters cleared the fence against Helling yesterday, two in the first inning, and Travis Lee doubled off reliever B.J. Ryan in the 10th inning to give the Tampa Bay Devil Rays a 6-5 victory before 9,022, capping a three-game sweep over the Orioles.

Given 20 minutes notice that he was starting last week because of an injury, Orioles pitcher Eric DuBose threw six scoreless innings against Oakland. Interim manager Sam Perlozzo joked that he should spring the news on DuBose in the same late fashion again if it meant getting similar results. Two days turned out to be too much. Serving again as a replacement for Daniel Cabrera, who went on the disabled list yester day, DuBose was gone after the second inning, a barrage of hits sending him to the bench and making a late rally nothing more than a cruel tease in a 7-6 loss to the Los Angeles Angels before 31,768 at Camden Yards.

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The Orioles constructed their nine-game winning streak on the heartbreak of Bret Saberhagen, Pedro Martinez, Rick Helling, Tim Wakefield and Aaron Sele, 10-game winners all. Thrown into a battle of pitching prospects last night with the fading Anaheim Angels, the Orioles' encouraging run died an ugly death, 8-3, before 37,806 beach ball lovers at Edison International Field.Angels rookie Jarrod Washburn (5-2) took his first win since June 28 by containing a scalding lineup on three hits for 5 2/3 innings.

It was spring training, the games were meaningless exhibitions and the Orioles were starting to get a sense of their newest leader and newest character, Miguel Tejada. Not just the way he fielded the shortstop position. Not just the way he hit - and he did plenty of that this spring. But also the way he brought them to life when everything else seemed dead. "It'll be quiet on the bench, and, out of the blue, he'll just yell something," said Orioles right fielder Jay Gibbons. "He'll blurt out a movie line or something.

Hitting Albert Belle, White Sox: 3-for-4, HR, 3 RBIs. Robin Ventura, White Sox: 3-for-4, HR, 3 RBIs.Shane Spencer, Yankees: Grand slam.Randy Velarde, Angels: 3-for-4, double, 2 RBIs.Roberto Kelly, Rangers: 2-for-3, HR, 4 RBIs.PitchingRoy Halladay, Blue Jays: 9 innings, 1 hit, 1 run, 8 strikeouts.L Jarrod Washburn, Angels: 6 2/3 innings, 3 hits, 2 runs, 1 walk.Pub Date: 9/28/98

BaseballAngels: Assigned P Robert Ellis to Triple-A Vancouver. Demoted P Jarrod Washburn to Double-A Midland. Recalled C Todd Green from Vancouver. Optioned P Ryan Hancock to Vancouver.Athletics: Activated P Ariel Prieto from DL. Placed P Don Wengert on 15-day DL, retroactive to July 24.Rangers: Sent P Kevin Gross to Triple-A Oklahoma City on rehab assignment.White Sox: Optioned C Robert Machado to Double-A Birmingham.Pub Date: 7/29/96

Baseball Angels: Activated P Jarrod Washburn from 15-day DL and optioned him to Triple-A Edmonton. Cubs: Recalled P Scott Downs from Triple-A Iowa. Recalled P Kelly Downs from Double-A West Tenn. Optioned 1B Julio Zuleta to Iowa. Athletics: Activated former Orioles P Doug Jones off 15-day DL. Designated P Scott Service for assignment. Brewers: Placed P Juan Acevedo on 15-day DL with right shoulder weakness. Purchased contract of P Everett Stull from Triple-A Indianapolis. Transferred C Robinson Cancel from 15-day to 60-day DL. Mets: Recalled P Glendon Rusch from Triple-A Norfolk.

Who's hot Kevin Millar batted .387 (12-for-31) on the Red Sox's just-completed 12-game road trip. Who's not Athletics starters, after start ing the season 20-9, are 4-11 since May 19. Line of the day R. Hammock, D'backs RF AB ...... R ..... H ..... RBI ..... 3B 5 ......... 3 ...... 4 ....... 3 ........ 2 He said it "He wanted to stay in longer? He had a five-run lead. He could have stayed in there a lot longer if he got them out." Jack McKeon, Marlins manager, on Brad Penny, who complained about being lifted after giving up six runs in 4 2/3 innings On deck Jarrod Washburn of the Angels takes a 6-0 interleague record into tonight's game against the Phillies.