Friday, 3 a.m.
Pete Fairbanks must be tired of watching teams walk off.
For the second straight night, Fairbanks -- who had been having a solid season -- looked on as an opposing team celebrated a game-ending victory at his expense. This time, Kyle Seager singled in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth to give the Seattle Mariners a 6-5 comeback victory.
Fairbanks walked the leadoff batter on four pitches, then gave up hits to three of the next four batters to see his record fall to 1-2.
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The night before, Fairbanks had been the victim of a hit by Chicago's Yasmani Grandal in an 8-7 loss to Chicago.
Ouch. In two nights, and two ballparks in two time zones, Fairbanks lost twice. He pitched 2/3 of an inning -- combined -- and gave up four hits and a walk on only 18 pitches.
The Rays had lost the Chicago game despite coming back from five runs down to tie. They lost the Seattle game despite leading 5-2 in the sixth inning.
“The intent was there," said Rays' manager Kevin Cash. "He just couldn’t quite command the baseball. And the margin of error is really non-existent when you’re pitching with a one run lead. It kind of put him behind with the walk and they had some good at bats."
The Rays have now lost three straight games.
This one stung because Tampa Bay had Rich Hill on mound, and Hill has been solid. But he gave up homers to Luis Torrens and Ty France.
The Rays play again tonight at 10:10 p.m. at T-Mobile Park. Michael Wacha will start for the Rays against Yusei Kikuchi.