Tuesday, 4 a.m.
Maybe they were flying too high. Maybe they flew to far to get to the game
Regardless, this one is going to take some time to figure out.
How do you figure that the Tampa Bay Rays, who have baseball’s best record, lost a 4-3 game to the Oakland A’s, a team that has lost more games than the Rays have won this season?
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What are the odds that the Rays scored just three runs — all coming on a three-run homer by Jose Siri — against James Kaprielian (who came in with a 1-6 record and a 7.21 ERA) and reliever Ken Waldichuk (who had been 1-4 with a 7.24 ERA).
Who could foresee pitcher Zach Eflin, excellent through four innings, becoming unraveled against a weak-hitting A’s team, giving up four runs on a double, two singles and two walks in the fifth Eflin had walked just nine batters in his previous 11 starts but lost the zone.
“I kind of lost all feel,” said Eflin, who had been 8-1 coming in. “I’m kind of embarrassed about it, to tell you the truth.”
Of course, these things happen in baseball. And the A’s are on a six-game winning streak.
The Rays will be able to look back on the game and wonder where their opportunities went. For instance, they loaded the bases in the third with one out, but Issaac Paredes grounded into a double play to end the inning.
The Rays were one-for-five with runners in scoring position for the game.
Still, to lose to a 50-loss team is kind of sad.
The Rays play the A’s again today at 9:40 p.m. The Rays have not announced a starter, but the A’s will go with Hogan Harris.