Sunday, 4 a.m.
Suddenly, he is mortal.
These days, he sweats. He bleeds. He gives up doubles.
He loses.
Shane McClanahan, the unquestioned star of the Tampa Bay Rays, lost his second straight game Saturday evening in a 9-1 loss to the offensively-challenged Detroit Tigers.
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In his last two games, McClanahan has pitched 10 2/3 innings, giving up 13 hits and nine runs. Saturday, he struck out a season-low three batters.
"To tell the truth, I thought I threw the ball well tonight," McClanahan said. "I thought I responded well. I filled up the zone and it didn’t go my way.
"It’s very frustrating. It didn’t go my way. I thought I threw better than my line would show tonight."
Rays' manager Kevin Cash agreed.
"I thought Shane threw the ball really, really well,” Cash said. "They put some good at-bats together . It seems like they started recognizing the change-up a little bit."
The Rays followed McClanahan with newly acquired Jimm Yacabonis, who gave up three earned runs, and Yu Chang, who gave up two.
The Rays had nine hits, but they left 11 men on base and were just one-for-nine with runners in scoring position.
“Bases loaded with less than two out," Cash said. "First and third a couple of times. We have to do a better job. One solo homer is not going to get it done."
The Rays' only run came on a solo homer by Chang.
The Rays and Tigers wrap up their four-game series today at 1:40 p.m. The Rays have not announced a starter. Matt Manning will start for Detroit.