Saturday, 4 a.m.
Ah, the poor, hitless Tampa Bay Rays. They don’t get a lot of men on base, and they drive in fewer still.
The Rays, after a two-game mini-streak, dropped a 3-1 game to the Baltimore Orioles Friday night. Once again, the Rays squandered their opportunities to score.
The Rays managed just five hits against the Orioles, and they managed just one run. The Rays were one-for-six with runners in scoring position, a consistent failing of the team this year. In their last 10 games, the rays are 14-for-73, a paltry .192 average.
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Once again, the Rays took an early lead but failed to hold on. This time, catcher Ben Rortvedt singled in Richie Palacios, who had doubled, in the second inning.
Rays’ starting pitcher Aaron Civale allowed one earned run through 5 1/3 innings, but the bullpen gave up three run-in the sixth. Richard Lovelady gave up two runs in one-third inning of work.
Jorge Mateo had a two-run double in the inning.
Newcomer Justin Sterner threw two shutout innings for the Rays.
The Rays, 28-30, will play Baltimore again today at 4:08 p.m. at Camden Yards. Taj Bradley will start for the Rays against Kyle Bradish.