Sunday, 4 a.m.
There are flames in the bullpen. There is disappointment in the faces. There is recession in the standings.
The Tampa Bay Rays are in trouble.
The Rays lost for the fifth time in their last six games Saturday, falling 6-5 to the Minnesota Twins. This time, the Rays lost a 5-1 lead as the bullpen struggled once again.
This time, pinch-hitter Brooks Lee drove in the walk-off run with a squeeze bunt.
Tampa Bay, which had crept within a half-game of the AL East lead, now trail by three games.
It was continued chaos for the Rays’ bullpen, which has given up 13 runs in the team’s last five games.
This time, Garrett Cleavinger took the loss. He faced three hitters in the bottom of the ninth and didn’t get anyone out. He walked Byron Buxton, gave up a single to Willi Castro. Lee’s squeeze bunt stayed fair down the first base line to drive in the game-winner.
Rays’ starter Taj Bradley had a wobbly second inning, but he gave up only one earned run in his 5 2/3 innings. The bullpen gave up five runs in 4 1/3 innings.
The big blow came in sixth on a three-run home run by Kody Clemens.
Brandon Lowe tied a team record with a hit in 20th straight game. Danny Jansen and three hits. Jake Mangum and Chandler Simpson each had two hits.
The Rays try to avoid the sweep today at 2:10 p.m. Drew Rasmussen will start for the Rays against Joe Ryan.