Friday, 4 a.m.
They didn't hit. They didn't stop throwing gopher balls. They didn't win.
And so the midsummer swoon of the Tampa Bay Rays continues.
The Rays' losing streak reached three games Thursday night in a 4-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays, a defeat that left the Rays 15 games out of first place and 2 1/2 games behind Boston and Toronto
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Once again, the Rays lost because of the long ball. All four Toronto runs came on two homers. Thirteen of the last 14 runs scored against the Rays have come off home runs.
"We're not doing outselves any favor by not making the most of some opportunities," Rays' manager Kevin Cash said. "We're just not putting enough pressure on pitchers."
The Rays did get one home run of their own, a fourth-inning shot by Isaac Paredes that snapped a 30-inning streak without a home run.
The Rays managed just five hits -- two of them by Yandi Diaz -- in the loss. They struck out 11 times and were oh-for-six with runners in scoring position.
Ryan Yarbrough, just called up from the minors, took the loss. He went 5 1/3 innings and gave up eight hits, including both home runs.
The Rays play Toronto again today at 3:07 p.m. at the Rogers Center. Corey Kluber will start for the Rays with Josh Berríos starting for the Jays.