Tuesday, 4 a.m.
You've heard this story before.
The Rays, still contending, are playing at home, where they've been successful. They're playing the Kansas City Royals, the last-place team of the AL Central Divison. They're facing former teammate Michael Wacha, who had lost seven straight games. They held the Royals to four hits and retired the last 14 hitterss they faced,.
And their own bats go to sleep.
The Rays struggled mightily against the Royals and Wacha Monday night, losing 2-1. It was another attempt by the Rays to get a streak going. Instead, they are 8-17 in their last 25 games.
It happens with the Rays on occasion. Take Tuesday night. The Rays were 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position and struck out eight times.
The Rays had just six hits, two of them by Chandler Simpson. Yandy Diaz drove in the team's only run with a fifth-inning double.
The Rays and Royals play again tonight at 6:40 p.m. at Tropicana Field. Shane McClanahan (6-4) will start for the Rays against Luinder Avila (2-3).