Monday, 4 a.m.
At the worst time imaginable, there is smoke rising from the bullpen of the Tampa Bay Rays.
Once again, the Rays struggled to get Texas batters out, leading to an 8-5 loss. In four games against the Rangers, the Rays gave up 23 runs. The bullpen gave up 10 of them.
The Rays had a 5-1 lead in the fourth inning, but couldn't hold on.
Part of the difficulties were on the part of starter Ian Seymour, who gave up two home runs to Jeff Burger.
The Rays built their lead with a four-run second. Victor Mesa Jr. singled in Chandler Simpson. Then Nick Fortes brought in a run with a sacrifice bunt to score Jorge Mateo. Yandy Diaz singled in Mesa Jr and Jonathan Aranda scored Fortes on a sacrifice fly. The Rays had four of their nine hits in the inning.
In the fourth inning, Junior Caminero brought in Diaz with a sacrifice fly.
Diaz, Aranda, Simpson and Jonny DeLuca all had two hits for the Rays.
The Rays are off today. They resume play Tuesday in Atlanta. Freddy Peralta (7-11) will start for the Rays against A.J> Smith-Shawyer (0-1).