Monday, 4 a.m.
Sometimes, it's hard to get a hit. Sometimes, it's difficult to get an out. Sometimes, it's a struggle to make a catch.
But how hard is it to slide?
Once again, the Rays were unable to make the simplest of plays in Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs. It's enough to make one question the focus of a team as it fades away.
Go back to the seventh inning, and the Rays' clinging to a 3-2 lead. Jake Mangum hit a ground ball that seemed to score Junior Caminero from third.
Brandon Lowe, however, running to second, didn't slide. He merely ducked and covered his head as he was thrown out.
Mangum, too, was called out even though he had safely crossed first base easily. Had Lowe merely slid, the run would have counted.
That meant that Nico Hoerner's two-run double off of Edwin Uceta was enough for the victory.
The Rays got off to a quick lead as Yandy Diaz and Junior Caminero led off the game with back-to-back homers. The Rays added only one more run on a bunt by Josh Lowe.
Caminero had two hits for the Rays, including his 44th home run. He is within two homers of tying Carlos Pena's franchise record of 46.
Adrian Houser allowed just two earned runs in six innings. He worked his way out of a bases-loaded, no one out situation in the fourth.
The Rays, 2-4 in their stay in Chicago, now return home to face Toronto at Steinbrenner Field tonight at 7:35 p.m. The Rays have not announced a starting pitcher. Trey Yesavage will start for Toronto.