Monday, 4 a.m.
Here's the realization that will put into perspective just how miserable things are for the Tampa Bay Rays in recent days.
Some days, not even Shane McClanahan can save them.
McClanahan, the starter for the American League in this year’s all-star game, had his worst outing of the season in Sunday's 5-3 loss to Cleveland, The Guardians didn't hit him hard, but they hit him fairly regularly and chased him from the game after he recorded just 13 outs.
Content beyond this point is for members only.
Already a member? To view the rest of this column, sign in using the handy "Sign In" button located in the upper right corner of the GarySheltonSports.com blog (it's at the far right of the navigation bar under Gary's photo)!
Not a member? It's easy to subscribe so you can view the rest of this column and all other premium content on GarySheltonSports.com.
Along the way, McClanahan:
-- In his 20th start, he worked the fewest innings (4.1) since his season opener.
-- Despite the short outing, he allowed the most hits (seven) of any start.
-- He allowed five earned runs, easily his most of the year.
-- His three walks were the most in any game.
“His stuff just wasn’t as crisp as we’ve seen all season long," Rays' manager Kevin Cash said. "The velo was down a tick. He just didn’t quite have the finish to the off-speed pitches.
"To be honest, I was contemplating taking him out in the third inning. That would have been an opportunity for him to freshen up with an off day, but then we scored some runs."
Yes, McClanahan was the victim of some softly hit singles. Then again, baseball doesn't give bonus points for how hard balls are hit.
"That’s how humbling the game of baseball is," McClanahan said. "Things have been going right for so long, and one of the days it’s just going to sprinkle in.
" It was just one of those days where nothing was going my way. I felt like I didn’t have much life on anything I threw. I didn’t make the adjustments and they made me pay for it.. It just wasn’t there. The stuff wasn’t playing like it normally plays."
It wasn't all McClanaha’s fault. The team didn't hit enough (two for nine with runners in scoring position), didn't pitch enough and especially disn’t run the bases well enough.
In the fifth inning, with no one out, Brandon Lowe was an easy out at the plate after trying to score on a single to left by Randy Arozarena. The next inning, Roman Quinn was picked off of first base.
"We know the offense has been challenged lately," Cash said. "We're doing everything we can to get the run across,"
The Rays are now 3-7 since the all-star break.
The Rays have a day off today, then play against Toronto Tuesday night at Tropicana Field. Drew Rasmussen is scheduled to start for the Rays. The Blue Jays have not announced a starter.