Sunday, 4 a.m.
His hello could have been better.
Perhaps he will be turn out to be a find yet. Perhaps he will get more comfortable on the mound, and he will dazzle opposing batters. Perhaps he will make an impact in the stretch run for the Tampa Bay Rays.
But as first impressions go, Aaron Civale struggled.
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Civale, the Rays’ big addition during the trade deadline, scuffled in his Rays’ debut Saturday afternoon. He lasted just 13 outs, and he gave up nine hits in taking a 4-2 loss in Detroit. It was the first time this season the Rays have lost to the Tigers.
Even more worrisome, perhaps, was the Rays’ sputtering offense. The Rays had seven hits and five walks, but they left 10 men on base and were just two-for-11 with runners on base. The Rays loaded the bases in the sixth and seventh, and they had three men walk in the ninth, but managed just two runs.
Wander Franco had three hits and a walk for the Rays.
The Rays and Tigers close out their series today at 1:40 p.m. Tyler Glasnow will start for the Rays against Matt Manning.