Friday, 4 a.m.
There are days you feel good about their chances. They will play well, or their opposition will play poorly, and you think that the Rays will be okay in their chase toward the American League East title.
And then there are days like Thursday. Days when the offense dries up and the pitching is wobbly. Days when you're sure the Rays are looking over their shoulders.
Thursday was a down day for the Rays, who lost a 6-0 game to the Texas Rangers. In their last two games, the Rays have given up 16 runs and 23 hits.
The Rays lead in the AL East is now three games over the Yankees and 7 over the Red Sox.
Rangers' pitcher Cal Quantrill, a noted Rays' nightmare, went seven innings and allowed just two hits.
It was the eighth time the Rays have been shut out this season. Of their 57 losses this year, 23 of them have been by six runs or more.
The Rays managed just three hits against the Rangers, two of them by Yandy Diaz.
Shane McClanahan (10-7) started for the Rays. He gave up six hits and four earned runs in five innings.
The Rays and Rangers play again tonight at 8:05. Nick Martinez (13-4) will start for the Rays against Kumar Rocker (5-10).