Friday, 4 a.m.
At the start, it looked like a cakewalk. Before it was over for the Tampa Bay Rays, it was the trail of tears.
When a team loses at this time of the season, it can count on the things that slip through their fingers. That was true of the Rays on Thursday at Truist Field.
Start with a brilliant performance from Nick Martinez, who was going for his 15th win. He went 6 1/3 innings and allowed just two hits. Add in a game lost to the Yankees in the division race.
Ah, but the offense couldn't hold its own. The Rays got singles from three of their first four hitters, but had only two other hits the rest of the game. In that bases-loaded situation, Chandler Simpson hit a double play.
The Braves scofed their three runs in the eighth, taking advantage of Kevin Kelly. Atlanta put together five straight hits, including a triple by Ozzie Albies and a double by Mike Yastrzemski -- neither of whom started the game.
The Rays' only run came on a pinch-hit home run by Victor Mesa Jr.
The loss allowed New York to close within three and a half games in the AL East race.
The Rays return home tonight for a game at 7:10 against the Astros at Tropicana Field. Drew Rasmussen will start for the Rays against Ethan Pecko (1-0) of Houston.