Sunday, 4 a.m.
For most of the season, they bedeviled opposing teams on the basepaths. They stole bases, they took extra bases, they turned games into track meets.
And, it seems, the Rays are on the verge of running themselves out of the World Series.
The Rays lost their second straight game in the Series to Milwaukee Saturday night. 5-4. This time, they blew a 4-0 lead. They wasted a start by their ace, Drew Rasmussen, and once again, they made an immense base-running error.
The Rays, who had two outs on the basepaths in Friday's opener, had another crucial one Saturday. In the sixth inning, the Rays were ahead 4-3. Catcher Liam Hicks was on second when teammate Victor Mesa Jr. singled to shallow left field. The Rays sent Hicks, who was easily out at the plate.
One batter later, Milwaukee's Sal Frelick homered to tie the game.
One inning later, Cooper Pratt singled in the go-ahead run.
The Rays had jumped to a 4-0 lead in the first inning. Chandler Simpson and Junior Caminero singled in runs and Hick hit a two-run homer to right-center.
But Rasmussen struggled. He lasted just 3 2/3 and threw 89 pitches (giving up six hits). The bullpen gave up two more runs.
The team's defense struggled, too. Jonathan Aranda dropped a foul popup and committed an error. Chandler Simpson couldn't keep hold of a fly ball.
Then there was the offense. The Rays got three hits in the first inning and just four afterward.
They did threaten in the ninth. Jonny DeLuca doubled to start the inning, but Yandy Diaz (hitless in the series) struck out to end the game.
The Rays need four wins to capture the series; the Brewers need just two.
The teams play again Monday night at Tropicana Field at 8 p.m. Freddy Peralta will start for the Rays against Robert Gasser.
