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Friday, 4 a.m.
Remember when he was good? Remember back in July, when Taj Bradley was the AL pitcher of the month. He was dominant then, an emerging star.
And quick as that, it was gone.
Often, gone over the fence.
Bradley, 23, suffered his sixth straight defeat Friday, giving up two more home runs on his way to a 5-4 loss to the Minnesota Twins. During his losing streak, which also incudes a no-decision, he has given up 10 homers.
This time, Eduardo Jalen hit a three-run homer Matt Wallner hit a solo shot. Only two teams — Toronto and the Chicago White Sox — have given up more homers than the Rays this season.
Bradley struck out 10.
It wasn’t enough, however. The Rays scored two in the third on a single by Junior Caminero. They added another in the seventh when Yandy Diaz doubled in Jonny DeLuca.
DeLuca had three of the Rays’ eight hits. Diaz had two.
Pablo Lopez struck out nine for Minnesota in winning his 14th. The Rays were two-for-nine with runners in scoring position.
The Rays open a series against the Orioles tonight in Baltimore aat 7:07 p.m. Shane Baz will pitch for the Rays. The Orioles have not announced a starter.