Rays have trouble getting runners across in defeat

by Gary Shelton on April 30, 2017 · 0 comments

in general

Andries went seven innings, but the Rays didn't score enough./JEFFREY S. KING

Andries went seven innings, but the Rays didn't score enough./JEFFREY S. KING

Sunday, 2 a.m.

The Tampa Bay Rays left its best chance to win on base Saturday.

The Rays went one-for-nine with runners' in scoring position and left 10 men stranded in a 4-1 loss to Toronto Saturday. The defeat knocked the Rays down to 12-13 on the season.

Tampa Bay managed only five hits in the loss, and it lost one of its best hitters – Steven Souza – after he was hit on the hand by a pitch. Still, the Rays were within a run in the sixth inning when Justin Smoak hit a two-run homer to open up the game

Matt Andriese started for the Rays and gave up three earned runs in seven innings

"Liriano did a nice job of keeping us off balance," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "Looked like he had both offspeed pitches going. The little cutter-slider, and the changeup. But it seemed like he really made some big pitches. His best pitches were made when guys were on base. And when pitchers do that, it makes it difficult."

Tampa Bay had two runners on base with no one out in the sixth, but Tim Beckham and Brad Miller struck out and Logan Morrison grounded out.

The Rays and Blue Jays play the final game of their series Sunday. Chris Archer pitches for the Rays against Toronto's Aaron Sanchez.

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