Sunday, 3 a.m.

Before you criticize, keep this in mind. A few months ago, they were strangers in shoulder pads.

The quarterback didn't know the receivers, who didn't know the offfensive linemen, who didn't know the defensive backs, and so on. They were a roomful of mercenaries, brought in the form a team.

So, yeah, the opening of the Brian Hartline era could have been crisper Saturday night at Raymond James Stadium. The Bulls spent a lot of time looking disjoined before they closed out a 19-9 win over Florida International.

The Bulls struggled to move the ball all nihgt. FIU finished the game with 173 more yards and five more first downs. USF led only 6-3 after three periods.

The Bulls scored 13 points in the fourth quarter, however, to pull away.

Nico Gramatica kicked four field goals for the Bulls.

J.J. Kohl therw for 301 yards for FIU. The Bulls ran for only 100 yards and threw for 100.

USF is on the road Saturdays against Army for a noon game.

Florida 66, FAU 21; Florida coach Jon Sumrall had an impressive debut Saturday, rolling over the Owls.

Quarterback Aaron Philo threw for 275 yards and three toughens. Jaden Baugh ran for 160 yards. Vernell Brown caught six passes for 117 yards.

The Gators led only 24-14 midway through the second period. They outscored FAU 42-7 afterward/

Saturday, 4 a.m.

For once, Bryan Baker couldn't slam shut the door.

So Tyler Wells gave him a push.

Baker, the top closer in the American League, came into the game seeking his 40th save as the Tampa Bay Rays led Texas, 7-5. But Baker, fighting illness, walked the first two batters he faced, and manager Kevin Cash went to the bulllpen to bring in Wells, recently acquired from Baltimore.

The Rangers got one run in on a sacrifice fly, but Wells left the tying run stranded at third as the Rays won 7-6 at Globe Life Field. It was the sixth save of the season for Wells.

The Rays seemed to be headed toward an easy win. They led 6-1 after five innings. But once Rays' starter Nick Martinez (14-4) left the game, the Rangers came alive.

Martinez left the game after giving up a hit and a walk. But when Garrett Cleavinger came in, the game turned wonky. Cleavinger walked a batter to load the bases, then gave up a grand slam to Ellis Diaz to bring the Rangers within a run.

In his last two outings, Cleavinger has given up a five runs, two hits and four walks while recording just two outs.

The Rays bult a five-run lead, starting on homers by Jonathan Aranda (his 18th) and Richie Palacios (his seventh). They scored four times in the fifth on consecutive doubles by Yandy Diaz, Aranda and Junior Caminero. Victor Mesa singled in a run, and a fourth scored on Cedric Mullins double play.

The biggest run of all, however, may have come when Caminero singled on Jorge Mateo.

Diaz had three hits for the Rays. Aranda, Caminero and Chandler Simpson all had two hits.

The Rays and Rangers play again tonight at 8:05 at Globe Life. Drew Rasmussen (14-5) will start against Jacob deGrom (10-9).

Friday, 4 a.m.

There are days you feel good about their chances. They will play well, or their opposition will play poorly, and you think that the Rays will be okay in their chase toward the American League East title.

And then there are days like Thursday. Days when the offense dries up and the pitching is wobbly. Days when you're sure the Rays are looking over their shoulders.

Thursday was a down day for the Rays, who lost a 6-0 game to the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field. In their last two games, the Rays have given up 16 runs and 23 hits.

The Rays lead in the AL East is now three games over the Yankees and 7 over the Red Sox.

Rangers' pitcher Cal Quantrill, a noted Rays' nightmare, went seven innings and allowed just two hits.

It was the eighth time the Rays have been shut out this season. Of their 57 losses this year, 23 of them have been by six runs or more.

The Rays managed just three hits against the Rangers, two of them by Yandy Diaz.

Shane McClanahan (10-7) started for the Rays. He gave up six hits and four earned runs in five innings.

The Rays and Rangers play again tonight at 8:05. Nick Martinez (13-4) will start for the Rays against Kumar Rocker (5-10).