Rays out of line in loss to the Orioles

Chirinos pitched welll in defeat./JEFFREY S. KING

Sunday, 4 a.m.

The Tampa Bay Rays didn't spend a lot of time running the bases Saturday.

Perhaps that's why they were so bad at it.

Wayward Willy Adames, the Rays' starting shortstop, had a chance to ignite a late-inning rally in the eighth inning, but was called out for being -- far -- out of the baseline, and the Rays went on to lose a 3-0 game to Dylan Bundy and the Baltimore Orioles.

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Adames had a baserunning gaffe./CARMEN MANDATO

Adames hit a nubber with Michael Perez on second, but he was far enough inside the baseline that pitcher Shawn Armstrong heaved his throw into right field, apparently allowing Perez to score and Adames to go to second.

However, Adames was clearly out of the baseline and was called out, erasing the run and forcing Perez back to second.

 "I feel like every right-hander that has that weak swing runs in the grass," Adames said. "I didn’t know you have to be halfway into that box (down the baseline). That’s something new I learned today. That could have been the start of the rally. It was not anything I was trying to do. My swing took me that direction; I just kept going that way."

Bundy had entered the game with an 0-4 record, but he got stronger as the game went along.

"Ultimately. they got it right," Rays' manager Kevin Cash said. "Willy was not in the baseline. I think his momentum from swinging the bat (left him out of the baseline. He was in the grass and it caused some disruption. I thought the umpires did a good job giving the explanation. It was just unfortunate. We didn’t have much momentum and that could have been it."

For the Rays, Yonny Chirinos took his first loss in five decisions. He gave up one run on a double-play ball, another on a ground out and the third on a home run by Billy Smith.

"I thought he was really good," Cash said. "I was really impressed with  Yonny and the way he navigated, just to limit the damage. I thought he was outstanding. We’ll take that outing any day of the week from a starter. Their guy was just a little bit better, but I couldn’t be more impressed with the way Yonny threw the ball."

The Rays' offense has struggled lately. In their last nine games, the Rays are averaging only 3.4 runs per game, including five games in that stretch with two runs or fewer.

"We have some bats that are quiet at the plate," Cash said.

Said Adames: "Bundy was dealing today. You’ve got to give it to the guy. We couldn’t hit tonight. We couldn’t produce anything."

The Rays try for another series win today. The Rays will probably start Ryne Stanek, with Johnny Means throwing for Baltimore. The game begins at 1:05 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.