Thursday, 4 a.m.
The great bat-freeze of the 2026 post-season continued for the Tampa Bay Rays Thursday.
Also, they are running low on chances to warm up.
The hitless wonders of the Rays fell 3-2 to Cleveland in the third game of the AL Championship. The Rays managed just three hits, and just one after the fourth inning.
The Rays were just one-for-six with runners in scoring position.
It has become a stat line that is hard to swallow for Rays fans, who won more games than anyone in the American League this year. In six games, the Rays have managed just 37 hits.
The top four batters of the Rays' order continued to struggle. They were one-for-15 on the night.
Still, it was almost enough after Chandler Simpson hit a two-run triple for a 2-1 lead.
However, Pete Halpin hit a two-run homer off Griffin Jax in the bottom of the fifth.
The teams play again today at Cleveland's Progressive Field at 6 p.m. Nick Martinez will start for the Rays.