The Associated Press

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Tampa Bay manager Lou Piniella said Friday he will dye his hair any "legit color" the players want if the struggling Devil Rays put together a three-game winning streak.

"I told the players if they can win three games in a row at any time this year, I'll dye my hair any color they want," Piniella said. "... I told them no purple. It's got to be a legitimate hair color."

Tampa Bay started Friday mired in a seven-game losing streak and has won a season-high two straight games six times. The longest losing streak in Piniella's 2,519 game managerial career is 10 while with Cincinnati in 1991.

RED SOX: Boston called up right-hander Ryan Rupe and placed struggling reliever Ramiro Mendoza on the 15-day disabled list. He started Friday night against Houston.

Rupe was 4-1 with a 2.72 ERA in 43 innings for Triple-A Pawtucket. Mendoza, who has tendinitis in his right knee, is 1-3 with a 6.81 ERA in 28 games.

DIAMONDBACKS: Arizona designated right-hander Scott Service for assignment and activated righty Mike Koplove from the disabled list. Service was 0-2 with a 4.91 ERA in 18 appearances. Koplove, 2-0 with a 2.16 ERA in 27 appearances, had been out since May 28 because of shoulder tendinitis.

PADRES: Right-hander Kevin Jarvis was activated from the disabled list, and left-hander Oliver Perez was recalled from Triple-A Portland.

Jarvis, who started Friday, underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow July 9, 2002. He is 29-38 with a 5.83 ERA in 148 career games. Perez, slated to start Sunday, is 1-3 with a 8.23 ERA this season.