Sunday, 4 a.m.
Five outs away, and the tumbling Tampa Bay Rays still could not seal the deal.
The Rays lost yet again to the Baltimore Orioles Saturday at Camden Yards. Tampa Bay has lost eight of its last nine games to the Orioles, still the last-place team in the AL East.
This one must have been difficult to absorb. The Rays led 2-0 with one out in the eighth and lost. They got five, four-hit shutout innings from Shane McClanahan and lost. They had a chance go ahead in the 10th inning with Taylor Walls trying to bunt in a runner from third -- one of their favorite plays -- only to have Richie Palacios thrown out at home.
And they lost. They now lead the Yankees by just three games and the Red Sox by just six and a half. They are 3-7 in their last 10 games.
McClanahan was sharp, but he threw 74 pitches after his recent injury and was pulled.
Kevin Kelly gave up a to ron homer to Samuel Bassallo in the eighth to tie the game. In the 10th, Dylan Beavers doubled home Leody Taveras with the winner off of Bryan Baker.
Liam Hicks had a homer for the Rays. Yandy Diaz each and Jonny DeLuca had two hits.
The Rayws and Orioles play again today at 1:35 p.m. Nick Martinez (12-4) will start for the Rays against Shane Baz (4-13).