Sunday, 4 a.m.
The closer Major League Baseball’s trading deadline gets, the more you might figure players would fight to avoid it.
With the Tampa Bay Rays, well, not so much.
The nosediving Rays were clobbered again Saturday night, losing a 6-2 game to the Cincinnati Reds. It was the team’s fifth loss in its last six games, and it lowered the team’s record to 6-14 for the month of July. They’re 7-17 in their last 24 games.
Once again, the game was a checklist of shortcomings by the Rays. For instance:
— The Rays managed just five hits, only two of them against starter Andrew Abbott. They managed to get just four runners to scoring position.
— The Reds broke the game open in the seventh inning on a bases-loaded single by Elly de la Cruz. All three of the runners on base got there by the walk.
— The Reds’ first two runs of the game came on a rare error by shortstop Taylor Walls.
— Tampa Bay batters struck out 10 times.
The Rays scored twice, one on the 18th home run of the year by Yandy Diaz. Josh Lowe’s pinch-hit single drove in the other run.
Starting pitcher Ryan Pepiot allowed just two hits over his six innings. He did walk four, however.
The Rays and Reds conclude their series today at 1:40 p.m. Shane Baz will pitch for the Rays against Brady Singer.