Saturday, 3 a.m.
If you are looking for exhibit A in the argument that the Tampa Bay Rays are off to a dreadful beginning to the 2024 season, this is it.
The Rays embarrassed themselves Friday night. Playing agains a woeful Chicago White Sox team — one that had won only three games all season — the Rays were drubbed 9-4. Tampa Bay fell to 13-14 on the season and are in last place in the AL East.
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The White Sox had lost seven straight coming into the game. In 25 previous games, they had not scored nine times in a game.
Tampa Bay had an awful start — falling behind 5-0 through six innings and getting only two hits in the process.
The Rays did show some signs of life late, loading the bases in both the seventh and eighth innings. In the seventh, Isaac Paredes grounded out. In the eighth, Randy Arozarena struck out.
Tampa Bay finished with nine hits — two of them by Curtis Mead.
However, starting pitcher Zach Eflin gave up nine runs and four earned runs in his six innings.
The Rays play at the White Sox tonight at 7:10 p.m. Aaron Civale will start for the Rays against Jonathan Cannon.