Wednesday, 4 a.m.
At a time you would have hoped they would be flying, they are falling.
The Tampa Bay Rays cannot help themselves. Their pitchers cannot keep the ball inside the park. Their hitters cannot build upon a lead. They are sliding in the standings.
When, you wonder, can they stop the skid?
The Rays lost for the eighth time in their last 11 games — and their fourth time in the last five. Once again, the bullpen couldn’t hold — Edwin Uceta gave up his eighth home run of the season as Detroit came from behind again. Once again, the Rays built an early lead but couldn’t add to it.
The Rays, recently within a half-game of the division lead, are now 4.5 games back.
The Rays took a 2-0 lead in the third inning. Jonathan Aranda homered in the first and doubled in the third and scored on a single by Josh Lowe.
The Tigers came back on a homer by Spencer Torkelson in the fourth, a single by Colt Keith in the fifth and a homer by Keith in the seventh to win the game 4-2.
Ryan Pepiot pitched six innings for the Rays and gave up just two earned runs. Still, he hit two batters and walked three.
Aranda had two of the Rays’ hits. Teammate Junior Caminero was named as a replacement for the All-Star game.
The Rays play Detroit again today at 1:10 p.m. Zack Littell will start for the Rays against Reese Olson.