Saturday, 4 a.m.
We interrupt this pennant race to bring a hint of July back to the Tampa Bay Rays.
You remember July, don't you, that lost month when the Rays had a 7-18 record and looked lot a like the Colorado Rockies. It felt a lot like Friday night's 7-1 romp by the Cleveland Guardians, where a sloppy Rays team slogged around Steinbrenner Field.
It broke a seven-game winning streak for the Rays. The team didn't lose any ground to Seattle, which lost, but the Rays now trail Kansas City and Texas in the wild card race.
Yeah, this was the way it was. Once again, the Rays didn't hit (seven hits). They didn't take advantage of opportunities (0-for-6 with men in scoring position). They didn't keep the ball in the park (two home runs surrendered). The bullpen wasn’t sturdy.
The Guardians scored five runs -- four of them unearned -- in the second inning to spark their victory.
The Rays' opener strategy didn't work Friday night. Griffin Jax started and gave up two hits in his one inning. But it was the second, when Ian Seymour entered the game, that the Rays fell apart.
Cleveland's Gabriel Arias reached on an error by Seymour. Brayan Rochio was hit by a pitch. No. 9 hitter Austin Hedges then walked to load the bases.
After that, Stephan Kwan singled in two runs and Jose Ramirez doubled in two. David Fry singled in the fifth run.
The Guardians added two more in the sixth when Hedges homered and George Valera singled to right.
The Rays' only run came when Junior Caminero hit his 41st home run of the season.
Both Yandy Diaz and Josh Lowe had two hits for the Rays.
The Rays and Guardians play again tonight at 7:35 p.m. at Steinbrenner Field. Shane Baz will start for the Rays against Tanner Bibee.