Wednesday, 4 a.m.
Don't you hate when your local professinal baseball team forgets how to play the game?
The Tampa Bay Rays seemed to be cruising along Tuesday when a nightmarish fifth inning struck them. They gave up a 1-0 lead and fell apart in a 4-1 loss to the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.
Over seven batters, the Rays were hardly the best team in the American League. They gave up a two-strike single. They let a pop-up fall harmlessly to the turf. They commited an error. They were called for a balk. They gave up a home run.
That, combined with an anemic offense, caused their downfall. The Rays scored just once, that coming in the fourth inning when the Rays loaded the bases with one out. Jonny DeLuca's infield single brought home Junior Caminero, but both Richie Palacious and Keven Walls struck out and no more damage was done.
Besides the three hits in that inning, the Rays had only two more against the Tigers. Caminero and Liam Hicks each had two of the hits.
Derroit starter Jackson Jobe was only 1-1 with a 4.56 ERA coming into the game, but he controled the Rays.
Tampa Bay started Casey Legumina, who allowed just one hit in two and a third inning. Ian Seymour came in adn allowed four runs in five and a third innings.
The Rays and Tigers play again today at 1;10 p.m. at Comerica Park. Freddy Peralta (5-11) will start for the Rays against Troy Melton (7-2).