Can this year’s Rays avoid last year’s slip?

Cash hopes to guide this year's team past .500./JEFFREY S. KING

Tuesday, 4 a.m.

This is the point where a little team can get lost.

Can the Tampa Bay Rays keep it from happening again?

This time a year ago, the Rays were 57-55, a spunky team that had surprised a few people. This time this year, the Rays are 56-56, a spunky little team that has surpised a few people.

Last year, this was just about when the team stepped through the trap door.

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A year ago, it was in their 113th game when the Rays ran into trouble. They lost six of their next seven games, and 10 of their next 12. They finished the year two games below .500.

This year?

Well, you'd like to think the Rays were better. But after trading away Chris Archer, Wilson Ramos, Adeiny Hechavarria and Nathan Eovaldi, and after Daniel Robertson was hurt, who knows?

Last year's team was on a two-game losing streak at this point. This year's team is on a three-game losing streak.

One similarity? Last year's Rays were 21-24 in one-run games.  (For the entire season).This year, the Rays are already 20-26.

The difference? Last year's team was older, more prone to hit home runs and more prone to strike out (and more expensive). This year's team has more rookies, and of course the mix-and-match pitching. This year's team entered with lower expectations.

So can the Rays avoid a slip in the latter stages of the season?

We'll see.