Monday, 4 a.m.
The Rays got more than they could hope for from a rookie pitcher Sunday.
They got more than they could have expected from their No. 5 hitter.
Except for that, yuck.
The Rays fell to the Las Angeles Dodgers, 3-1, to fall back to the .500 level on the season. They lost because they
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gave up two home runs, most importantly a two-run shot by Mookie Betts in the eighth inning. They lost because they they had only five hits, were 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position and struck out nine times.
The Rays will rue wasting a solid pitching performance from call0up Jacob Lopes, who went five innings and gave up just two hits and one run (a homer by T.K. Hernandez). But reliever Richard Lovelady gave up a hit batter and the homer to Betts as the first two batters of the eighth.
The Rays’ only run came on a solo homer by Jonny DeLuca, who had a strong series against his former team. The final four spots in the Rays’ lineup, however, were 0-for-13.
DeLuca, hitting .190, was five-for-11 in the series
Gavin Stone pitched seven innings against the Rays and allowed just three hits.
The Dodgers hit seven home runs in the three-game series.
The Rays now travel to Seattle to start a series. In tonight’s (9:40 p.m.) opener, Ryan Pepiot will start for the rays against Bryce Miller.