Taylor tries, fails to stop skid

Tuesday, May 20, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

Considering what Kerry Taylor has been through the past two years, one would expect the Las Vegas Stars right-hander to be ecstatic after limiting the Albuquerque Dukes to three runs on three hits in six innings.

But Taylor, who has pitched just 43 innings in the past two years after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 1995, was the most sullen player in a somber Stars clubhouse following the Stars' 5-2 loss Monday night at Cashman Field.

Taylor (0-2) tossed five hitless innings, then gave up three runs in the sixth with a 2-0 lead and suffered his second loss in three starts since joining the Stars two weeks ago.

"I didn't hold my end of the deal up today," Taylor said. "We're up by two runs, we should get a win. Anytime you walk four guys in six innings, I can't be happy with what I did today. With no hits through however many innings, it doesn't matter as long as you walk that many people, you're just asking for trouble sometime and it caught up to me today.

"I know what I can do and right now I'm not doing it and that's the tough part to swallow right now. I can go in the bullpen and I can make the pitches I need to make, then I get into the game and something happens. I'm sure over time it'll probably take care of itself but right now I'm disappointed in myself. The team needs a win and to go out there and throw well for five and then crap all over myself in the sixth is not something the team needs and it's something that I have to get away from."

Stars manager Jerry Royster was more impressed than Taylor with the right-hander's performance, although he said he understood Taylor's frustration.

"That's fine for Kerry to be down on his performance because he didn't win but it doesn't matter, he still pitched a very good game," Royster said. "His reaction is fine for him but I know what he did. Three runs in six innings in any league will make you a lot of money.

"He's throwing a lot of strikes, he's not walking a lot of guys, he's doing what he needs to do. Kerry Taylor is the kind of guy who will always be disappointed in his performance if he hasn't won because he's a gamer from the word go. But it looks good from where I'm sitting."

The Stars were sitting pretty after five innings, holding a 2-0 lead on the strength of a run-scoring double by Jorge Velandia and an RBI single by Eric Helfand in the second inning.

Taylor, who had walked three batters in his first five innings, opened the sixth inning with a walk to the Dukes' leadoff hitter, Roger Cedeno. Chad Fonville followed with a double and Taylor hit Chip Hale with a pitch to load the bases. Paul Konerko tied the game with a sharp double down the third-base line to tie the score.

After getting Karim Garcia to line into a double play, Taylor gave up an RBI double to Will Pennyfeather that put the Dukes ahead 3-2.

"All three starts I've had, there's been one inning where I've struggled ... and as long as you have those types of innings, it's going to be tough to win games, it's going to be tough to keep the team in games," Taylor said. "That's my job as a starter, to keep the team in the game and I feel with a two-run lead going into the sixth, I should be able to hold them to two runs or less in that situation."

Albuquerque added two runs on three hits off reliever Todd Schmitt in the eighth inning to go ahead 5-2. The Stars loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth on a leadoff single by Derrek L. Lee and one-out singles by Chad Tredaway and Velandia, but Dukes reliever Mike Harkey struck out Helfand and pinch-hitter Jim Tatum to end the game.

Taylor was more disgusted that he couldn't help his teammates to a win than he was with his failure to notch his first victory since joining the Stars.

"I'm just sick of losing, and not just the days I'm pitching -- I'm sick of watching the team struggle right now," Taylor said. "I know we're going to pull out of it, it just seems like it takes forever for us to do it right now. I can't wait for the day that we do and see more smiles in the clubhouse and see everybody a lot happier. It seems like if something can go wrong, it does."

While Taylor still is attempting to return to the major leagues after serious elbow surgery, the 26-year-old made it clear that he no longer is in a rehabilitation mode.

"This is not a rehab," he said. "I'm back and I'm expected to win games and I'm expected to give them innings and go out there and pitch well and give the team a win. I haven't done that yet and I feel like I should.

"I want to be somebody who is called on to go out there and give the team every opportunity to win the ballgame and so far, I feel like I haven't been holding my end up. It's time for me to get over that, no matter what it takes."