Snell struck out four in two innings of work/JEFFREY S. KING
Tuesday, 4 a.m.
The playoff hopes of the Tampa Bay Rays suffered a blow Tuesday night. It wasn't a killer, but it didn't help.
The Rays, in a three-team scramble with Oakland and Cleveland, absorbed a 7-5 beating at the hands of the Los Angeles Dodgers while both Oakland and Cleveland won.
With 10 games to go, the Rays now trail Oakland by two games and lead the Indians by just 1/2 game.
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Choi hit his 16th home run of the season./CHUCK MULLER
The Rays managed just six hits in their loss. Still, they were tied 2-2 in the seventh, and they had one-hit Los Angeles to that point. But the Dodgers came up with five runs on five hits in the bottom of the seventh and went on to win their 98th game of the season.
”Tough one," said Rays' manager Kevin Cash. "We did some good things and some not-so-good things. They’re a really good team. They capitalize on every little thing. We didn’t make a play at first base. The walk-walks to (Cody) Belinger and (Max) Muncy didn’t help us either."
Blake Snell started the game for the Rays, and struck out four in two innings. He didn't allow a hit or a run. But Snell could go only two innings, begging the question if he will be able to give as much help as the team needs,
"He was outstanding," Cash said. "We couldn't have asked for more. The power was tremendous, the command was great. We're very encouraged by his performance."
The Rays were already playing a tougher schedule than either Oakland or Cleveland. The loss points that out. The Dodgers now have 98 wins, only one fewer than the Yankees or Astros.
Tampa Bay plays the Dodgers at 8:10 tonight, when Brendan McKay will pitch against Tony Gonsolin at Dodger Stadium.
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