d'Arnaud got the Rays back in the game with a homer./JEFFREY S. KING
Wednesday, 3 a.m.
d'Arnaud playing first for the Rays./JEFFREY S. KING
The hole was just too deep. The grip was too slippery. They lead was too great.
And so the Tampa Bay Ray lost again. You can be comforted, if you wish, by a two-run rally based on walks in the bottom of the ninth. But the Rays fell 5-4 to the Boston Red Sox Tuesday night, and as a result, they fell behind to the Sox to fourth place in a two-team wild-card chase.
Tampa Bay has now lost seven of eight games, and keeps sliding farther from contention in the American League playoff race.
The Rays are 7-11 in their last 18 games and 16-23 in their last 39.
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Chirinos gave up only two earned runs in 5 2/3 innings./JEFFREY S. KING
This time, not even Travis d'Arnaud could bail out the Rays, although he tried. His third-inning home run tied the game for Tampa Bay, and he had a walk in the ninth.
The Rays fell behind 2-0, then tied it, then fell behind 5-2. It was just too much for Tampa Bay to overcome. Colin Poche (2-4) took the loss for Tampa Bay. Yonny Chirinos started and pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing only two earned runs.
Cash said he took out Chirinos because of the Red Sox' lineup.
Duffy finally saw action for the Rays./JEFFREY S. KING
“All the lefties," he said. "It was a 2-2 ballgame. We got the matchups we liked with the lefties the way they stack their lineup. We felt like ‘let’s get somebody in there who maybe is a tick better matchup after those guys had already seen him two times through.”
Poche gave up a go-ahead home to Christian Vazquez.
“That wasn’t one of those lengthy at-bats," Cash said. "He just left a ball down. I know the intent was not to go down with it, but he left it down. Vázquez has had a really good year, he was ready for it and knocked it out of the ballpark.”
Said Poche: “It’s tough because, at times, I feel like I’m on and I’m throwing the ball really well. And then every outing, there’s a pitch or two that I miss and I’m
Garcia makes a catch for the Rays./JEFFREY S. KING
getting burnt every time. I have to find a way to keep the ball in the ballpark, it’s getting pretty ridiculous, honestly, how much the ball is flying out when I’m out there. I know there are no excuses for it. I have to go out there and do better.”
Cash also wondered about reliever Diego Castillo.
“He was throwing too many balls," Cash said. "A couple plays that are questionable, could be made, should be made, either way, he’s working way too hard for the stuff that he has.”
The Rays try to avoid a sweep today when they play the Red Sox at 12:10 p.m. at Tropicana Field. Charlie Morton will pitch for Tampa Bay against David Price.
Cash's team is in a tailspin./JEFFREY S. KING
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