Monday, 3 a.m.

Remind yourself that he's still healing. Tell yourself that it's part of the process. After missing so much time, it is natural that Shane McClanahan is still on the mend.

That said, but could recuperation kind of hurry itself along?

McClanahan made his fourth start since his return, and no, he's not back yet. There are signs, and there are promises, but so far, this is not the same Cy Young candidate he was.

Again, that's normal. Still, it's hard to witness McClanahan unable to finish the fifth inning, or leaving with an ERA of 5.00.

The Pittsburgh Pirates got to McClanahan early in Sunday's 6-3 victory over the Rays at PNC Park.

The Rays took a 2-1 lead on Hunter Feduccia's two-run single in the fourth. But Pittsburgh came right back with three in the bottom of the inning.

The Rays had just six hits on the day. One of them was Junior Caminero's fifth homer of the season.

The Rays return to Tropicana Field tonight at 6:40 p.m. against Cincinnati. The Rays have yet to name a starter to oppose the Reds' Rhett Lowder.

Sunday, 4 a.m.

At the end of forever, behind all the gallons of rain that fell, on the other side of domination, the Tampa Bay Rays finally won Saturday afternoon.

The Rays came from behind to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates, 8-7, in a game that seemed as if it would never end.

Cedric Mullins hit a two-run homer in the top of the 13th inning to lead the Rays to their 12th win in 20 games (and seventh of their last eight).

Before the rain came, it didn't look so promising. Pittsburgh ace Paul Skenes had worked his way out of a spot of trouble in the second, but by the fourth, he was cruising. A pair of two-run homers by Ryan O'Hearn and Marcell Ozuna had the Pirates out front 4-0, and the Rays managed just three hits in four innings against Skenes.

A long rain delay forced both teams to change pitchers, and it paid off for the Rays. They scored five times in the fifth on a double by Junior Caminero, a single by Jonathan Aranda, a double by Jonny DeLuca and a single by Mullins.

Pittsburgh tied it in the eighth, but the Rays regained the lead when Taylor Walls scored from first on a wide pickoff throw by Yohan Ramirez in the top of the 11th.

The Pirates tied it again in the bottom of the 11th when Konnor Griffin's grounder brought home a run, setting the stage for Mullins' blast.

Mullins has had his struggles this year. He's hitting just .149.

For Saturday, Chandler Simpson, Caminero, Jonathan Aranda, DeLuca and Mullins all had two hits.

The Rays and Pirates play again today at 1:35 p.m. at PNC Park. Shane McClanahan will start for the Rays against Mitch Keller.

Saturday, 4 a.m.

After winning six straight games, maybe their bats grew a little tired.

The Tampa Bay Rays' hot streak ended Friday night in a 5-1 defeat at the hands of the Pittsburgh Pirates in PNC Park. The Rays barely showed any resistance to the defeat.

Tampa Bay had just five hits, and they managed just one hit in six tries with a runner in scoring position.

Oh, the Rays did manage to score a tying run in the sixth when Junior Caminero knocked in Chandler Simpson -- they had the Rays' second and third hits of the night. But the Rays gave up four runs the rest of the way.

Rays' starting pitcher Nick Martinez gave up two earned runs through 5 1/3 innings.

Former Ray Brandon Lowe had three hits and two RBI for the Pirates.

The Rays play the Pirates again today at 4:05 p.m. Drew Rasmussen will start for the Rays against Paul Skenes.