Sunday, 4 a.m.
There are times it feels as if the Tampa Bay Rays might never win again. They will, of course. Still, it might be a while.
The Rays lost their sixth straight game Saturday, falling 7-4 in 11 innings to a red-hot Kansas City team. The Rays came from behind three times, but the Royals exploded for three runs in the 11th to sew up the game.
The Rays are having trouble hitting and relieving in their latest loss. In their six straight losses, the Rays have given up 38 runs.
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This time, the Rays had a few clutch hits, but only a few.
— Jonathan Aranda hit a home run and a double in the loss.
— Harold Ramirez tied the game at 3 with a first-pitch, pinch single in the seventh.
— Jonny DeLuca singled in the tying run with a double in the 10th.
In the end, however, the Rays just couldn’t get the go-ahead run. The team was two-for-14 with runners in scoring position and left 11 runners on base.
Starter Aaron Civale held the Royals to two runs in his five innings, although he gave up his 11th home run of the season (to Nelson Velazquez). The Rays have given up 70 home runs this season, second worst in the majors.
Aranda and Richie Palacios each had two hits for the Rays.
The teams wrap up their series today at 1:40 p.m. at Tropicana Field. Taj Bradley will start for Tampa Bay against Michael Wacha, a former Ray.