Thursday, 4 a.m.
Was this the offense that you feared?
For all of the off-season, the chatter about the Tampa Bay Rays was that they couldn't hit. The team put a lot of that to rest with its hot start, but doubts never completely die, do they.
And the last two nights, when the Rays have entered a dark tunnel in their season, it has left cause to wonder again.
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The Rays lost a 1-0 game to the Houston Astros Wednesday night, getting only two hits (both by Manuel Margot) the loss. It was the team's second straight shutout, and stretched its scoreless inning streak to 20.
Yeah, you have to give credit to the Astros' pitching. Luis Garcia and Hunter Brown were both dynamic the last two nights.
But consider this: In two games, the Rays scored no runs, had seven hits, only one an extra base hit. They struck out 17 times.
Brown was dominating, allowing two hits through seven innings.
The only run he needed came in the first inning on a bloop single by Jeremy Pena, two wild pitches and an error by Wander Franco.
The Rays now travel to Chicago to face the White Sox in a 7:10 p.m. game. Shane McClanahan will start against Chicago's Dylan Cease.