Monday, 3 a.m.
The pitching failed early, leaving the team is a six-run hole.
The hitting died late, falling just short in their comeback attempt.
Together, they were too much for the Tampa Bay Rays in a 6-5 loss to the Chicago White Sox Sunday afternoon. Left in the ashes were a comeback attempt and a strong day by the bullpen.
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The Rays got off to a terrible start, falling behind 6-0 in the first two innings. Starter Ryan Yarbrough got only five outs and allowed six runs, eight hits and two walks.
“We basically lost that game because of me today.," Yarbrough said. "I didn’t put us in a good position. Obviously, it was a pretty terrible day. Nothing went well. I think that was the biggest thing. They’e a really aggressive lineup and they can do some damage. The fact that I’m not locating like I want to it ends up for some bad results. It was a punch to the gut."
Rays' manager Kevin Cash said the problem with Yarbrough was "command."
The Rays came back within a run, however. Isaac Paredes hit a home run in the fifth. Mike Zunino hit a two-run homer, and Randy Arozarena tripled in a four-run sixth.
But after that, the Rays went quietly. In their last three innings, they had only one hit, and infield hit by Yandy Diaz. Diaz was picked off when he broke early on a steal attempt.
“Down 6-0 in an inning and two thirds, it can frustrate a club and would expect that it it would frustrated ours," Cash said. "Give them credit for looking past that and put pressure (on Chicago). They had to use their key guys to finish that game."
The Rays bullpen was led by Ralph Garza Jr., who pitched 3 2/3 innings of shutout baseball.
The Rays are off today, then play against St. Louis Tuesday night at Tropicana Field at 7:10 p.m. Jeffrey Springs will start of the Rays and Dakota Hudson for the Cardinals.