
Saturday, 4 a.m.
They cannot hit enough. All season, you have heard it. With a bat in their hands, they are particularly inoffensive.
Whiff, said the Tampa Rays.
And furthermore, whiff.
The Rays dropped a 3-2 game to the Houston Astros Friday night in a weak offensive performance. The Rays fell to 55-54 on the season.
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In the effort, the Rays:
— Struck out 14 times (of 27 outs). At one point, nine players in a row struck out.
— Were one-for-five with runners in scoring position.
— They left eight men on base.
— Their first two batters of night got two hits. Their next 28 got three.
The Rays also stumbled in the field, making two errors. Christopher Morel let a ball get away on a throw to second from the outfield that allowed the winning run to score for Houston.
Wasted in the loss was a strong start by Shane Baz, who went 5 1/3 innings and allowed just two runs. Baz was pitching near where he grew up.
The Rays loaded the bases with one out in the eighth,but Josh Lowe struck out and Jonny DeLuca grounded out. They also loaded the bases in the sixth but DeLuca flied out.
The Rays scored twice in the first off of a double by Yandy Diaz and a home run by newcomer Dylan Carlson.
The Rays and Astros play again tonight at 7:15 p.m. Zack Littell will start for the Rays against Ronel Blanco.