Tampa Bay gets a favorable nod

Saturday, February 10th 2007, 3:15 pm

By: News On 6

PHOENIX (AP) _ The Tampa Bay Devil Rays have won the first arbitration decision of the year. The Devil Rays will pay Josh Paul $625,000 and not the $940,000 the backup catcher requested.

Paul made $475,000 last year while hitting .260 with 1-home run and 8-RBIs in 146 appearances.

Paul is best known for a play during the 2005 playoffs while with the Los Angeles Angels. Umpire Doug Eddings ruled Paul did not glove Kelvim Escobar's pitch before it hit the ground, allowing A.J. Pierzynski to reach base as the White Sox rallied in the 9th-inning of Game 2. Chicago went on to tie the series and eventually win their first World Series since 1917.