Monday, 4 a.m.
Could the Tampa Bay Rays do this trade-deadline thing again?
The Rays, once thought of as the smartest kid in class, as the team you do not want to swap with, went down again Sunday afternoon. This time, the Seattle Mariners completed a sweep and sent the Rays reeling toward its 28th loss in 41 games.
It was hard not to relive the trade deadline as Adrian Houser was roughed up early. In the first inning, he gave up four runs, four hits, three walks and a hit batter. Houser is 0-2 since coming to the Rays.
How else have the new guys done? Reliever Griffin Jax has a 10.80 ERA. Catcher Hunter Feduccia is hitting .143.
And the losing cotinues.
Sunday, the Rays came back to within 4-3, but the bullpen gave up two late runs for the final margin. Cal Raleigh hit a two-run homer -- giving him three homers and eight RBI for the series. The Mariners had nine hits, five walks and three hit batters on the day.
Ha-Seong Kim had a homer and a double for the Rays. Chandler Simpson had a triple and a double. But the Rays couldn't close the gap.
The Rays travel to Sacramento tonight to face the Athletics at 10:05 p.m.Ryan Pepiot will start fofrthe Rays against former Ray pitcher Jeffrey Springs.