Wednesday, 4 a.m.
The Tampa Bay Rays may be blowing their biggest chance of the summer.
The opportunity to get back into the race was at hand. They had a 10-game homestand. Their schedule was packed with beatable foes.
Instead, the air continues to drain from their balloon.
The Rays lost again Tuesday night. They were clobbered by the last-place Kansas City Royals, 12-5 at Tropicana Field. It was their third loss in four games for the fading Rays.
It was the team's 13 loss its last 20 games, its 18th in its last 26.
In the last two months, the Rays have lost two series to the Orioles, two to the Angels, to the Tigers, to the Marlins and are down 2-0 to the Royals.
The Royals looked strong against the Rays, scoring two in the fisrst, four in the fifth and five in the eighth for their easy win. It was 11-1 at one point.
Nick Lofton had four hits for Baltimore and Jac Caglianone had three, including two home runs for Kansas City.
Junior Caminero had three hits for the Rays and Jonathan Aranda had two. Caminero had his 16th home run.
The Royals got to Shane McClanahan for six runs in six innings, although only two were earned. The Rays have lost four of his last five starts,
The Rays try again to beat the Royals tonight at 6:40 p.m. at Tropicana Field. Griffin Jax (2-5) will start for the Rays against Noah Cameron (4-4).